Interior minister apologizes over police mishandling of missing person case in Jeju

Seoul, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung acknowledged on Wednesday the police's alleged mishandling of a missing person case on Jeju Island, vowing to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter. The incident garnered nationwide attention after a police officer closed the case in May, without verifying the woman's safety. Her remains were discovered on Monday following an extensive search by the police last week.

Yun, alongside the police leadership, expressed deep regret to the public in a meeting with senior officials. He emphasized the need to uncover the truth behind the Jeju case. In response to the incident, Yun instructed police officials to verify if the case could potentially be linked to more serious misconduct. He also directed them to inspect other missing person cases nationwide for any signs of wrongdoing.

Moreover, Yun highlighted that the case exposed a structural flaw in the police's approach to handling missing person cases. He called for a wider inspection of the existing system to ensure improvements. The police officer responsible for the case was arrested on Tuesday after a local court issued a warrant for his arrest.