South Korea's Lee calls for greater police accountability after Jeju missing-person cases

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for increased police accountability following public outrage over the handling of several missing-person cases on Jeju island. The police are set to assume a larger role in criminal investigations as part of ongoing reforms. Four individuals reported missing on Jeju were discovered dead over a three-day period, with the remaining cases involving two individuals who were missing for over a year.

Allegations suggest that the same officer closed two of the cases without verifying the safety of the missing persons, leading to the officer's detention on suspicion of dereliction of duty, falsifying records, and obstructing official duties. The police have pledged to examine and improve their case-management system to prevent such incidents in the future.