[Editorial] Police Must Reveal the Truth Behind the False Closure of Missing Persons Cases and Establish Preventive Measures

A female police officer falsely concluded a 30-year-old woman's disappearance case and deleted it from the management system, leading to her emergency arrest. It was later discovered that this officer had falsified multiple disappearance cases. The police's handling and management of disappearance cases revealed significant weaknesses.

Instead of stopping at concluding the case of the officer in charge, they must thoroughly investigate the entire system, from the report and response to search and conclusion. On July 22, the Jeju Police Headquarters arrested a senior police officer (G-deputy chief) from the Jeju West Police Station's Criminal Investigation and Search Team for falsifying documents and obstructing official duties.

On May 15, G-deputy chief received a disappearance report from the companion of J (37), who had not returned home for three days. Just 2 hours and 20 minutes later, G-deputy chief concluded the case by telling the reportee, "I heard from them, they're okay. They're reluctant to reveal their location." On July 19, J's family reported the disappearance again, and after checking J's mobile phone call records, it was confirmed that J had not had any calls after disappearing.

J has been missing for more than a month and has not been found. The criticism is that the officer's unilateral decision to conclude the case allowed them to neglect the most critical period for search efforts. The police must not only conclude the case of the officer in charge but also conduct a thorough examination of the entire system, from the report and response to search and conclusion, and establish fundamental measures.

The Jeju Police Headquarters also confirmed that on July 7, the disappearance of a 60-year-old man was falsified by G-deputy chief. This case was confirmed when J's family reported the disappearance again, and the police conducted a mobile phone location check, finding the missing person in a near-death state on July 22. If the revised Criminal Procedure Act, which came into effect on October 2, is implemented, the police will have significantly expanded authority and responsibility as the primary investigator of a fair investigation.

To regain the trust of the public, a thorough overhaul of the entire police investigation process, not just the handling of missing persons, is necessary.