The bereaved families of Jang Mi-ran (37) and another missing person in their 60s are reportedly going through a difficult time emotionally, suffering not only from a false case closure by the officers in charge but also from online speculations and some media reports.

The cousin of Jang Mi-ran posted on social media on the 24th, saying, "Our older cousin, who had been missing, was ultimately found dead." They added, "The family wants to check whether the outcome could have been different if proper search operations had continued at the time, and why the case was closed in the middle of the search."

The cousin continued, "We are currently reviewing legal responses, including civil and criminal lawsuits as well as a state compensation claim," while asking for the help of a lawyer.

However, after the post gained massive attention in a short period of time, Jang's cousin deleted it and posted a follow-up statement: "Not all police officers are corrupt, and not all police officers are incompetent." They added, "We are well aware of the hard work of the many police officers, coast guard personnel, and related officials who struggled to find the missing person."

At the same time, the cousin requested, "Please refrain from criticism, speculations, and unrelated political talk," and urged, "Journalists, please also refrain from contacting us."

The bereaved family of the missing person in their 60s also strongly protested against the police's false case closure and inadequate initial response.

Visiting the Jeju Seobu Police Station on the 23th, the family member vented their anger, asking, "There was plenty of time to save my father. Couldn't you have searched a little faster?"

Furthermore, when Police Inspector A, who had been released two days after an emergency arrest, emerged from the holding cell at the Jeju Dongbu Police Station on the 24th, the family member shouted in protest, saying, "Let us see your face," and "You said he was alive."

The bereaved families are currently known to be avoiding contact with the media while demanding corrections and deletions regarding certain provocative news reports.

(Photo: Yonhap News)