Jeju missing person cases raise doubts over police readiness for sole investigative power

The premature closure of several missing person cases on Jeju Island has fueled distrust in the police's ability to handle such matters, prompting concerns about the force's preparedness to assume sole investigative authority. President Lee Jae Myung took action on Tuesday by establishing a government body to oversee reforms aimed at improving police performance.

This came just after authorities discovered a body believed to be Jang Mi-ran, a 37-year-old woman who had been missing for months, sparking controversy due to reports that a police officer had closed the case without verifying her whereabouts. Following this revelation, police announced on Tuesday that they had removed all four officers from the chain of command at Jeju Seobu Police Station, placing them on leave pending an investigation.

President Lee emphasized during a Cabinet meeting that recent lapses in police discipline and negligence in public safety have become serious issues, noting that police are expected to assume a level of power greater than any other state institution. This sentiment reflects a growing sense of public concern over the reliability of police investigations.