(LEAD) Police officer under arrest for prematurely closing missing person cases in Jeju

Jeju police officer apprehended for premature closure of missing persons cases

A police officer in Jeju has been placed under emergency arrest for allegedly closing two missing person cases without verifying the individuals' safety, according to a report by Yonhap news agency. The officer's actions are under investigation for potential dereliction of duty, falsification of official electronic records, and obstruction of official duties through deceptive means. The missing woman, Jang Mi-ran, 37, has not been found more than three months after she was reported missing by her family.

In both cases, the officer allegedly closed the cases prematurely, informing the families that the missing persons were safe. However, despite claiming that he spoke with the missing individuals, recent investigations found no corresponding call records. The police and Coast Guard initiated a full-scale search for Jang on Thursday after her body was discovered on Saturday.

National Office of Investigation head, Hong Seok-ki, visited Jeju police headquarters on Sunday to receive updates on the search and investigation. In a statement, Hong expressed regret to the public and pledged to implement institutional remedies to prevent such incidents from recurring. He also strongly reprimanded the officers involved to restore their focus in the field investigation.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook directed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and to determine if the cases were closed in violation of proper procedures. She also requested a prompt report on fundamental countermeasures to prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future.