National Office of Investigation chief says Jang Miran died of decomposition, cause of death undetermined... 15,100 missing-person cases reviewed

[Financial News] Hong Seok-gi, head of the National Office of Investigation at the National Police Agency, expressed regret on the 31st over recent criticism of police mishandling of investigations, including the Jeju missing-person case involving Jang Miran and the murder case of a high school girl in Gwangju. He said he was "deeply remorseful." The police have launched a full review of about 310,000 missing-person cases closed over the past three years and have examined about 15,100 cases so far.
At a regular press briefing held at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Hong said, "I regret not only the misconduct of some officers in charge, but also the fact that the command and supervision of managers, including myself, did not function properly."
He added, "As the police are moving toward greater independence, I know the public is even more concerned, and I feel a heavy sense of responsibility." He stressed that while various forms of oversight will be introduced, the police will quickly pursue what they can do on their own to strengthen capabilities and improve organizational culture.
He also said the police will hold managers who failed to properly exercise investigative authority strictly accountable. Hong promised, "We will strictly discipline investigators who abandoned or abused the investigative authority entrusted to them by the public, as well as managers who failed to properly supervise and direct them."
The police plan to complete an initial review by the end of November of about 310,000 missing-person cases closed over the past three years, a process that was launched after Jang's case.
Hong said, "I ordered the full review on the 24th, and as of the 28th, about 15,100 cases were under review." He added that no major problems have been reported so far. He also noted that not all of the 15,100 cases were closed without face-to-face contact, and that each case is being checked individually to determine whether it involved in-person or non-face-to-face confirmation.
For the full review, dedicated staff of two to five people per police station have been assigned. Hong said, "We plan to reinforce the effort by expanding the dedicated teams," adding, "I believe it is our duty to ease public concern."
The police will also improve how missing-person investigation teams are staffed. Regarding the current practice at many police stations of having a single officer on night duty, Hong said, "In the long term, it is right to have multiple officers on duty," and added that the police will analyze and reflect the necessary staffing levels.
A recheck of 298 missing-person cases previously handled by a senior patrol officer surnamed Bumo, who is suspected of falsely closing Jang's case, is now in the final stage. The Jeju Provincial Police Agency deployed about 20 personnel to review those cases in full and plans to explain the detailed findings on the 1st of next month.
Regarding the cause of Jang's death, Hong said, "The NFS autopsy found that decomposition made the cause of death undetermined." He added, "We are continuing the investigation with all possibilities open to determine the truth." No additional police officers have been booked on criminal charges beyond the senior patrol officer.
However, inspections are under way for former and current police chiefs, criminal division heads, and missing-person team leaders who were in the chain of command above the senior patrol officer. Asked about the possibility of criminal liability for them, Hong said, "We are checking whether their handling of the case was appropriate." He added, "Depending on the results, we will decide whether the matter ends with disciplinary action or is turned into a criminal case."
The police are also revising procedures for closing missing-person cases in response to this incident. They have tightened the rule requiring face-to-face confirmation and instructed officers to use nearby district or precinct officers when the investigating officer cannot directly verify the missing person. If the missing person refuses to meet with police, the police also proposed confirming their safety through firefighters or staff at an administrative welfare center.
The approval function for managers in the missing-person profiling system is also being improved. The police are checking whether procedures to notify the reporter of progress for a certain period before a case is fully closed are being properly carried out, and they are also considering system upgrades so reporters can track case progress.
In the Gwangju murder case involving a high school girl, four people have been booked as suspects and are under investigation, in addition to the former violent crimes team chief who has already been arrested and sent to prosecutors. Hong said, "I understand that the investigation into the four is continuing," but declined to comment on specific plans for their detention or release.
The investigation into lawmaker Kim Byung-gi is expected to wrap up soon. Hong said, referring to the Investigation Review Committee's decision to conclude the case within one month, "Given the current progress of the investigation, there is little disagreement that it can be completed within that period."
The case involving HYBE chairperson Bang Si-hyuk is also expected to be sent to prosecutors this week. However, Hong said the decision on whether to detain him will be announced at the time of the referral.
In the Starbucks "Tank Day" case, police are analyzing materials obtained through search and seizure. On the investigation involving the Korea Football Association, Hong said there is nothing further to disclose beyond what has already been announced, adding, "We will move faster."
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter