PM orders probe into Jeju police's alleged false reporting of missing persons

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has ordered a comprehensive investigation into allegations of false reporting in a missing person case handled by Jeju police.

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Thoroughly investigate the entire investigation process.

The directive comes after a police officer in Jeju was found to have allegedly closed a missing person case in May by falsely reporting contact with the individual. Subsequent checks revealed no call records between the officer and the missing person, and crucial data from the missing person profiling system had reportedly been deleted.

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Meticulously verify whether there were any acts such as falsely closing cases during the process of receiving and handling missing person reports, and promptly report on fundamental measures to prevent recurrence.

This discovery prompted a review of other missing person cases handled by the same officer, leading to suspicions that another case may have also been falsely closed. The officer has since been arrested on charges including dereliction of duty.

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Make every effort to search for the missing persons by mobilizing the maximum available police force.

In response, Prime Minister Han instructed the National Police Agency to meticulously examine the entire investigation process. He emphasized the need to identify any instances of falsely concluding cases and to promptly develop fundamental measures to prevent recurrence. Additionally, he directed the police to mobilize all available resources to intensify the search for the missing persons and to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards prank calls and fake news that further distress the victims' families.

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Respond strictly with a zero-tolerance principle to prank calls and fake news that further distress the families of the missing persons.