South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on August 27 that the recent discussions on police reform, triggered by the "false closure of missing persons cases," highlight the need for significant changes in the overall organizational culture of the police.
During a meeting with reporters at the Government Seoul Complex, Han emphasized, "There are serious issues with the procedures, order, and methods of handling cases, and we need to address these properly."
He criticized the handling of the situation from the occurrence of the false closure to the recent discovery of the victim's body, calling it "shocking" and stating, "Even as a regular citizen, it is hard to understand how the situation was managed."
Han revealed that he has instructed senior police officials, including Acting Commissioner Yoo Jae-sung, to expedite improvements in systems and procedures related to missing persons cases and to take a more proactive approach to problem-solving.
Previously, Han had directed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough investigation into missing persons cases, implement strict measures against any improper or illegal handling, and separate the responsibilities of those involved in case management and closure.
Regarding the establishment of a police reform organization, which President Lee Jae-myung directed during a Cabinet meeting, Han expressed that it would be preferable to create this body outside the police organization. He stated, "Is it really possible to carry out reform from within? Reforms must be presented in a way that is understandable to everyone. While internal measures and changes are necessary, it may be difficult for an organization that looks at the whole to be situated internally."
He also noted the significant number of reported cases and the need for guidelines for investigations, while acknowledging that the current method of handling cases individually is not appropriate.
However, he addressed the perspective that links this issue to the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigative powers, stating, "This is a problem within the police's internal system. As I mentioned during the National Assembly's budget committee meeting, it is not the case that everything goes well when the prosecution handles it and that everything is problematic when the police do."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.