Missing Persons Record Exceeds 100,000 for 3 Consecutive Years
Challenges in 'Forced Investigation' of Adult Missing Persons Highlighted
Utilization of Public Institution and Private Investigation Systems
[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee, Yoo Byungdon]"We still have missing person reports from 30 or 40 years ago asking to find their lost parents."
The head of the missing persons investigation team at a frontline police station in Seoul said there are unresolved missing person reports, including those involving elderly dementia patients. There are also cases where parents living in rural areas report their children living in the metropolitan area as missing because they cannot contact them. On the 15th, a missing person report for a man in his 20s was received in Seoul, and a missing person report for a man in his 80s was filed in Jungnang-gu, Seoul.
Adult and Elderly Missing Persons Remain Long-Term... Police Strengthen Monitoring
According to the frontline missing persons investigation team, an average of 8 to 9 missing person cases are reported daily. Most missing person cases have their whereabouts or life status confirmed, and those whose whereabouts remain unknown are classified as undiscovered. If a missing person case is reported to a frontline police station for over a year, it is classified as a "long-term missing" case and managed at the provincial police agency level. A police official stated, "Recently, there have been many reports of missing adults," adding, "There are short-term discovery reports such as 'did not come home after drinking,' but some reports involving adults in their 20s or elderly people remain long-term."
According to the National Police Agency on the 19th, a total of 82,505 missing persons were recorded from January to August this year. Here, missing persons generally refer to those whose whereabouts are unknown, including cases of runaway, disappearance, abduction, and unconfirmed life status due to disasters or accidents. Among them, 49,353 were adults, and 17,705 were children under 18. Missing persons with dementia and disabilities numbered 5,585 and 9,862, respectively. Recent missing person report statistics show 117,822 cases in 2019, 106,108 in 2020, and 7,381 in 2021, maintaining over 100,000 cases for three consecutive years.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency recently issued guidelines to frontline police stations regarding the capture of missing persons. The document reportedly emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of long-term missing persons. This comes as cases such as 23-year-old Kim Gaeul, missing in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and a similar case involving a man in his 20s last month in a nearby area have prolonged, leading to concerns that future missing person searches may become more difficult.
Limitations of Forced Investigation for Missing Adults... "Initial Investigation Direction is Crucial"
Unlike children, forced investigations for missing adults are difficult, making discovery challenging. According to the current Act on the Protection and Support of Missing Children, location tracking is limited to children under 18, intellectually disabled persons, and dementia patients. Due to difficulties in initiating active investigations, searches for missing persons face obstacles. A police official explained, "The frontline missing persons investigation teams and detective units are overwhelmed with cases reported daily," adding, "If cases are deprioritized over time, discovery becomes harder, so continuous monitoring is necessary."
Experts emphasize the importance of early response in missing person cases. Professor Kwak Daekyung of Dongguk University’s College of Police Science said, "Accurately understanding the nature of the missing case at the outset and setting the investigation direction determines success or failure," adding, "It is important to thoroughly secure testimonies from not only family but also relatives, neighbors, and friends."
He continued, "The missing persons database currently used by the police should be more systematized, and various information should be utilized," adding, "Establishing systems in advance to enable smooth cooperation with related organizations such as social welfare agencies would also be helpful."
Professor Kim Dowoo of Gyeongnam National University’s Department of Police Science advised, "Although text messages are sent regarding missing persons, few people pay close attention," and suggested, "Creating and utilizing a public institution’s private investigation system would likely be more effective."
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