Police launch full inspection, reform push after Jeju missing-person case closed in error

The Korean National Police Agency has launched a full inspection of its investigation and command-and-oversight systems in connection with allegations that a missing-person case in Jeju was improperly closed. The controversy is spreading fast, exposing gaps in police investigative capacity just as prosecutors are set to lose their direct investigative authority under a revised Code of Criminal Procedure taking effect in October.

The agency's inspection office announced Monday that it had begun an audit to establish the facts surrounding the improper closure of the Jeju missing-person case, covering the entire chain of case handling, command, management and oversight.

Inspectors plan to focus on whether Officer A, the junior constable who handled the case of Chang Mi-ran, properly filed reports when closing the case and whether supervisors exercised adequate oversight. A separate investigation into Officer A's act of falsely closing the case will proceed in parallel.

Acting Police Commissioner Yu Jae-seong told a plenary session of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on Monday that he was "deeply sorry for the concern caused" by the handling of the Jeju missing-person investigation and pledged to "thoroughly investigate the officer in charge and hold them accountable."

The agency's National Investigation Headquarters issued a nationwide "missing-person investigation reinforcement plan" to police stations across the country and began work on systemic reforms to prevent cases from being closed prematurely. Under the new rules, officers handling missing-person cases must submit a written report to the criminal affairs chief stating the reason for and outcome of any closure after removing the case from the profiling system.

The agency is also overhauling its computer system so that a supervisor must review and give final approval before a missing-person case can be closed, with the upgrade targeted for completion within one month.

The police moves came in tandem with President Lee Jae-myung's order Monday for a full accounting of the case and systemic reform. After receiving a report Monday afternoon that a body believed to be Chang's had been found, Lee called for "a thorough investigation into the entire police inquiry process" and directed authorities to review the command-and-oversight structure and draw up a fundamental internal reform plan.

A missing-person report for Chang was filed in May, but Officer A closed the case roughly two and a half hours after it was received, recording that contact had been made with her. The officer was also found to have deleted Chang's records from the missing-person profiling system when the case was closed.

Police discovered a body believed to be Chang's at 10:46 a.m. Monday in a palm grove in Hallim-eup, Jeju — 104 days after she was reported missing on May 12.