DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Crime & Justice

South Korea's Lee demands greater police accountability after Jeju missing-person cases

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung demanded greater police accountability following public outcry over the handling of missing-person cases on Jeju island.
  • Four missing individuals were found dead over three days, with allegations that at least one case was improperly closed by an officer without confirming the person's safety.
  • The controversy arises as police are set to gain expanded investigative powers, prompting calls for strengthened responsibility proportional to their authority.

President Lee Jae Myung has called for enhanced police accountability in South Korea, spurred by public anger over the handling of several missing-person cases on Jeju island. The demand comes as reforms are poised to grant the police a more significant role in criminal investigations.

"Police are likely to wield the greatest power among state institutions," Lee stated at a cabinet meeting Tuesday. He questioned the force's readiness to bear this responsibility, emphasizing, "Responsibility must be strengthened in proportion to the size of the authority."

Over three days, four people reported missing on Jeju were discovered deceased. While the cases were reportedly unrelated, allegations surfaced that at least one was closed by the same officer without verifying the missing person's safety. This has led to a review of 298 missing-person reports handled by that officer, with about 10 possibly improperly closed.

Police are likely to wield the greatest power among state institutions. Responsibility must be strengthened in proportion to the size of the authority.

— Lee Jae MyungSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday about the need for police accountability.

One high-profile case involved Jang Mi-ran, 37, whose disappearance became a national issue after police allegedly closed her case prematurely. Her body was found 104 days after she vanished. Another involved a man in his 60s, whose family reported him missing again, leading to a search that found his body. The officer involved has been detained on suspicion of dereliction of duty and other charges, though he denies them, claiming he contacted the missing individuals.

Acting National Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong apologized for the incidents and pledged systemic improvements. Supervisory approval is now required for closing missing-person cases, pending an upgraded system. "We will examine the entire system and make institutional improvements so that this never happens again," Yoo assured lawmakers, promising a review of all cases handled by the implicated officer. The controversy highlights concerns about police powers, especially as they are set to absorb investigative functions previously held by prosecutors.

We will examine the entire system and make institutional improvements so that this never happens again.

— Yoo Jae-seongActing National Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong addressing lawmakers on Monday, promising measures to prevent recurrence of mishandled missing-person cases.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog