Lee calls for police reform after body believed to be missing woman is found in Jeju

A body believed to be that of missing woman Jang Mi-ran, 37, was discovered on Jeju Island after being missing for 101 days. Police initially closed the missing person report prematurely after falsely claiming an officer had contacted her, leading to mounting criticism against the Jeju Provincial Police. Police found Jang's cell phone and clothes in the vicinity of Hallim in northwestern Jeju, where her body was located.

DNA analysis will confirm her identity and cause of death. Police suspect foul play but believe the likelihood is low. The missing woman had gone off the grid on May 12, and her boyfriend reported her missing three days later. However, a senior patrol officer on the missing persons investigation team falsely claimed to have made contact with her, closing the case quickly.

The police only launched a large-scale search two months later after her family began receiving tips from social media. The officer involved has been placed under arrest for dereliction of duty, but was later released after a warrant review. President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation into the case and a review of the police's handling of Jang's disappearance.