강력범죄 막을 첫 부서인데…경찰들 실종 수사 부서 ‘기피’

A 37-year-old woman believed missing in Jeju has been found after 104 days, sparking criticism over police handling of criminal cases. The incident highlights the urgent need for serious investigation into mass disappearances, but in reality, 99% of adult disappearances are dismissed as "simple outings" by police. Critics argue that structural flaws within the police system allow for negligence and inconsistent investigation.

A report from the Chosun Ilbo reveals that the special unit handling such cases suffers from an overburdened workload and insufficient compensation, leading to demotion in personnel prioritization. Police officers from different stations express their reluctance to handle such cases, citing a lack of support and preference for other types of crime.

The lack of uniform procedures across police stations further compounds the problem, with the quality of "risk assessment" varying greatly depending on individual officers. In the case of the missing woman in Jeju, critics argue that basic procedures were not followed, such as specifying the expected date of return and tracking her movements via CCTV.

Experts recommend that risk assessment be conducted by external experts or profilers rather than individual officers, and that clear protocols be established to ensure that cases are not arbitrarily closed.