South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook expressed her deep condolences for the late Jang Mi-ran on August 24, stating, "I feel an infinite responsibility for this incident."
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she emphasized, "Nothing is more precious than the lives and safety of our citizens," and assured that the government would make every effort to ensure a thorough and fair investigation into the missing person case.
During a comprehensive policy inquiry at the National Assembly's Budget and Settlement Special Committee, she responded to a request from Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Dae-rim for improvements in the investigation process, saying, "I feel deeply saddened by the related incidents" and added that the government is reviewing the situation and will actively push for swift action.
Moon pointed out that the case was undermined by a single official's false input, which rendered basic procedures like face-to-face verification and profiling system registration ineffective. He urged that the management should mandate double-checking by supervisors and ensure that any modifications or deletions in the missing person profiling system are automatically reported to higher authorities.
Han acknowledged the significant public concern regarding the recent inadequate responses to missing person cases in Jeju and directed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough nationwide investigation and reform the missing person investigation system.
In her emergency directive, she instructed the police to carry out the ongoing nationwide investigation into missing persons meticulously and to take strict measures against any confirmed wrongful or illegal handling of cases.
She also urged the police to identify institutional shortcomings through the investigation and to expedite system improvements, such as separating the responsibilities for case handling and closure.
Furthermore, she directed the police to use this incident as an opportunity for deep reflection and reform, ensuring the integrity and fairness of investigations to quickly restore public trust.
On the same day, the Jeju Police Agency reported that at approximately 10:46 a.m., a body believed to be that of Jang, who had been missing for over three months, was discovered near Hallim-eup in Jeju City.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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