In Jeju, the Democratic Party of Korea's Police Reform Promotion Team and the Public Administration and Security Committee visited the site of the case of Jang Mi-ran, in which a police officer's false closure of a missing-person report delayed the search, and strongly criticized the police's missing-person search and response system.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Rep. Kim Young-jin, who chairs the Public Administration and Security Committee of the National Assembly, along with Rep. Kim Young-bae; Reps. Kim Nam-hee and Lee Hae-sik, co-leaders of the Police Reform Promotion Team; and members Lee Ju-hee and Kim Dong-a visited the site in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, where Jang's body was found. After examining the location where the body was discovered and the surrounding terrain, they received a briefing from the head of the criminal division of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency on the circumstances of the search at the time and the size of the personnel deployed.
After inspecting the site, Democratic Party lawmakers emphasized the need to improve the overall missing-person search and response system. Rep. Kim Young-jin said, "If the situation at the time of the initial report had been properly assessed and the search area expanded, there might have been a chance to conclude the case early."
He added, "Police must establish a system that prioritizes the life and safety of missing people from the initial report by preparing missing-person handling manuals and regulations more clearly."
Rep. Kim Nam-hee also said, "Public anger is high over the entire process from the first missing-person report to the false closure," adding, "This case should not be seen merely as the deviation of the individual officer in charge." She continued, "If a case does not draw intense media attention, isn't the missing-person search carried out by relying only on the system?"
The Democratic Party conducted an on-site inspection that day and then moved to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency for a meeting with the Jeju police chief, and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok will also visit the site in person in the afternoon.