Acting police chief says woman found dead in apparent hanging, apologizes for public concern

[Financial News] The police said they have not found any evidence so far suggesting foul play in the case of a body believed to be that of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, who went missing in Jeju in May and was found 104 days later.
At a plenary meeting of the Security and Public Administration Committee at the National Assembly area in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 24th, Yoo said in response to a question about whether the body had been confirmed as Jang's, "It is still a presumption at this point," adding, "I understand that the clothes, slippers and mobile phone are the same."
The exact identity and cause of death will be confirmed after a forensic examination by the National Forensic Service. Yoo stressed, "An official autopsy has not yet been conducted," and said of the timing of identification, "We need to request the National Forensic Service, and we will do it as quickly as possible."
Asked why police do not view the case as highly likely to involve a crime victim, he explained, "According to the report I received from the Jeju Provincial Police Agency chief, she is believed to have died by hanging." When asked whether there were any signs suggesting homicide, he replied, "Not so far."
Police discovered the body, believed to be Jang's, at around 10:46 a.m. while conducting a joint search in a palm forest in Hallim-eup, Jeju City. It was 104 days after Jang disappeared on May 12, following her departure from the lodging where she had been staying long-term.
Jang's partner reported her missing to police three days later, on May 15. Police traced her mobile phone location and determined that she had moved toward Hallim Port, but an officer identified as A allegedly told the reporter false information, saying, "We made contact with Jang and she is safe," and "However, Jang asked that her whereabouts not be shared with her partner and others."
Officer A closed the case about two and a half hours after the report and also removed Jang from the police missing-person profiling system. As a result, the search in the Hallim Port area was halted. Police are investigating whether A may have entered Jang's status as a "body found" case in the system.
Jang's partner tried to file another report on the 17th of last month, but it was not accepted because of the existing record. Two days later, Jang's family filed a new report in Seoul, and the search resumed. Police have continued searching since early this month, focusing on the Hallim Port area and nearby locations.
Police are also reviewing the entire case-handling process after it was additionally revealed that Officer A falsely closed another missing-person case involving a man in his 60s reported on the 2nd.
Yoo said, "I deeply apologize for causing concern over the investigation into the Jeju missing-person case," adding, "We will examine the entire system and make institutional improvements so that such an incident never happens again." He also said, "We will thoroughly investigate the officer in charge and hold them accountable."
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter