Lee Hae-sik, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, sparked controversy with his remarks regarding the missing person case of Jang Mi-ran in Jeju. He stated, "This incident, which may be an individual deviation, has become national news and is a burden on the regime," prompting widespread debate online. Notably, criticism has emerged from progressive 2030-generation female-dominated online communities.
During a meeting of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee on August 25, Lee questioned Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung about the police's response to the missing person case, asking, "Should we continue to allow this phenomenon, where an individual deviation becomes national news and burdens the regime?"
At the meeting, lawmakers discussed the police's false closure of the case, which was reported missing in May. Acting National Police Agency Chief Yoo Jae-sung revealed that the officer involved had handled a total of 298 missing person cases and promised a thorough review of related incidents.
The discovery of a body presumed to be Jang Mi-ran's approximately three months after the missing report intensified criticism of the police's initial response and the false closure. Yoo expressed his regret in the National Assembly, vowing to improve the system to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Following Lee's comments, reactions on various online communities questioned the implications of his statements. One user criticized, "Is it a serious issue that could send them to prison, but a matter of individual deviation when it comes to the lives of citizens?"
Others expressed sentiments such as, "It seems they are eager to hand over power," and "The Democratic Party views the public as livestock." Some users noted that the narrative of individual deviation was anticipated as soon as the incident occurred, suggesting that the party is beginning to distance itself from accountability.
There were also calls for better management of party statements, reflecting a broader distrust in the political sphere. Comments included, "Democratic Party, please keep your members in check. I dislike the ruling party, but you are trying to become just as bad," and "If it were the ruling party, there would have been candlelight vigils for truth-seeking, but both parties are just looking out for their own interests."
Another user remarked, "I thought I wouldn't be surprised anymore, but they keep raising the bar," while another added, "Wow, you incite public sentiment on other cases, but handle this one like this?"
Meanwhile, during the Administrative Safety Committee meeting, Yoo stated that the Jang Mi-ran case involved both individual deviation and systemic issues. The National Police Agency has initiated an investigation to review the entire process from the officer's case handling to its closure.
This controversy extends beyond individual misconduct, raising questions about the internal systems for handling missing person cases, oversight by superiors, and external checks on investigative agencies. As the false closure of Jang Mi-ran's case has come to light, discussions in the National Assembly about police accountability and the need for systemic reform are expected to continue, along with ongoing debates about the appropriateness of Lee's "individual deviation" remarks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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