Acting South Korean police chief makes Jeju his first field visit

Kim Jong-cheol, the acting head of South Korea’s National Police Agency, will make Jeju his first field visit after taking office. The island was the site of a missing-person case that police falsely closed.

The agency said Kim will visit Jeju on the afternoon of the 3rd to review the inadequate response and prepare measures. He will pay respects at the funeral of a missing person who was found dead 104 days after disappearing, inspect a palm plantation in Hallim Township, and receive a briefing on related issues at Jeju Provincial Police Agency.

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I am very concerned that public distrust in our police investigations and administration may have gone beyond a critical point.

The visit signals Kim’s intention to begin reform with missing-person cases, which are directly linked to public safety. At a news briefing, he said recent cases had pushed public distrust of police investigations and administration beyond a critical point. He said he would first check whether systems for missing-person cases and related crimes were working properly.

Before travelling to Jeju, Kim will convene a national police leadership meeting at police headquarters in Seoul. All 18 provincial and metropolitan police chiefs are expected to attend, including 14 newly appointed chiefs.

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That is why I will first check whether the systems directly connected to public life and safety, including missing-person cases and related crimes, are functioning properly.