제주 실종 여성 2차 신고 때도…“단순 가출 아니냐” 미온 대응

The process of reviewing the case of missing woman, Jeong Joo-reon (37), revealed that she was found missing and unreported after her family filed a second report on the incident. The case was reported to the Jeju Police Headquarters just one hour after it was initially reported to the Seoul Nohwon Police Station on May 19th at 3:50 PM.

However, despite the comprehensive search, a thorough investigation was not conducted. A relative of Jeong's, Kim G-seon, reported the missing woman at the Nohwon Police Station on May 19th at 3:50 PM. The Nohwon station concluded the case based on the report that Jeong had contacted authorities, informing Kim at 5:03 PM the same day.

The officer at Nohwon station allegedly asked Kim, "Isn't it just a simple disappearance?" and "Why did you report on a relative who isn't your direct family?" The officer added, "It's better news that the missing person hasn't been found yet. If it's a bad situation, they would have been found earlier." The Nohwon station's worker stated that they considered these questions as misunderstandings.

Jeong was last seen leaving her home at 10:15 PM on May 12th, and her missing report was submitted 3 days later at 6:43 PM on May 15th. However, the investigation from the Jeju Regional Office was terminated after 2 hours and 33 minutes from the initial report, at 9:16 PM on May 15th. At the time, the police were searching a coastal area near Halmun, based on the location of Jeong's mobile phone.

However, the chief's false report and the premature case closure prevented further thorough investigation. Two months later, on June 2nd, Jeju authorities found a woman suspected to be Jeong in Halmun.