Intensive search for missing woman begins a month after re-reporting; cause of death unclear

Police have initiated an extensive search, including the use of drones, for Jang Mi-ran, 37, who was reported missing in May. The concentrated search efforts began only four days before her body was discovered.

The delay in locating Jang was exacerbated by a report from her family on July 19th stating her mobile phone had been inactive for three months. The subsequent month-long period before the intensive search commenced has complicated the investigation into the precise cause of her death.

Adding to the controversy, an officer involved in the case is under investigation for allegedly falsifying records. This officer reportedly closed another missing person case on the day it was reported by entering a false reason for resolution and using an arbitrary phone number. It has also emerged that this same officer, who had falsely closed Jang's missing person case in May, received an award from the National Police Agency commissioner in June for contributions to finding missing persons, while Jang was still missing.