"Case Closed With Victim Found 400m Away?... 'The Public Is Watching': The Truth Behind the Cameras in Front of the Police Station"

Controversy Over Police Falsely Closing Case and Deleting Missing Person Records
Jeseok Lee Advertising Lab Launches Guerrilla Campaign
Installation of Mock CCTV Cameras With No Recording Function

The closed-circuit television (CCTV) that usually monitors citizens and crime scenes is now pointed at the police. Amidst controversy over the Jeju police’s inadequate response—such as falsely concluding a long-term missing woman case—a unique public service advertisement has appeared with the message "The public is watching."

On August 31, the Lee Jaesuk Advertising Research Institute announced that public service advertising expert Jeseok Lee had carried out a guerrilla-style public campaign using CCTVs the previous day around Hallim-eup in Jeju City and the area near Jeju Western Police Station.

A unique public service advertisement featuring the message "The public is watching" has appeared, targeting the Jeju police amidst controversy over their inadequate response, including falsely closing a long-term missing woman case. YouTube channel "Jeseok Lee's Advertising Archive"

The advertisement features a woman wearing clothing labeled "CITIZEN" looking through a CCTV camera, with several other citizens staring directly ahead behind her. The billboard displays the phrase "The public is watching." Notably, in front of the Jeju Western Police Station, a model resembling a real CCTV camera was installed, pointed directly at the station. By turning the direction of the CCTV cameras—usually aimed at monitoring citizens and preventing crime—toward the police who wield public authority, the campaign symbolizes that the police, too, should be subject to the monitoring and oversight of the public.

The advertisement includes the phrase, "Greater power comes with greater checks. The public is watching," as well as the message, "Wishing for the restoration of trust in the police." This campaign was organized as criticism of the police’s initial response grew, after it was revealed that an officer in charge of the case of Ms. Jang, a woman in her thirties reported missing in May, had falsely closed the case and removed the missing person’s information from the police system.

While the police failed to investigate the missing persons case in a timely manner, it was found that much of the CCTV footage from the area, which could have confirmed Ms. Jang’s last movements, had been erased after the retention period expired. In the end, Ms. Jang was found dead on August 24 in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, 104 days after her disappearance. She was only about 400 meters away from the accommodation where she had been staying.

Lee Jaesuk Advertising Research Institute explained about this work, saying, "The focus was on satirizing the system's loopholes and responsibility issues rather than attacking specific individuals." YouTube channel 'Lee Jaesuk's Advertising Archive'

Regarding this project, the Lee Jaesuk Advertising Research Institute explained, "The focus was on satirizing the system’s loopholes and issues of responsibility rather than attacking a specific individual."

Mr. Lee has previously served as an official promotional ambassador for the National Police Agency and has carried out public campaigns related to police and public safety for about 15 years. Through this campaign, he stated that "Greater power requires greater responsibility and oversight," expressing the wish that the police restore the public’s trust.

Online, people expressed sympathy with the campaign’s message, emphasizing the need for oversight and monitoring of the police. Comments included: "Install CCTVs inside police stations and let the public see them," "Any organization without checks will inevitably fall into complacency and corruption," and "Now, the public must also watch the police."

The advertisement included the phrase "Greater power comes with greater checks. The public is watching," along with the message "Wishing for the restoration of trust in the police." YouTube channel 'Lee Jesuk's Advertising Archive'

Some point out that this incident should not be seen solely as the misdeed of a single police officer, but rather as a prompt to review the entire process of handling and closing missing persons reports and the overall system of internal supervision. After Ms. Jang's case, Jeju Province began pursuing measures to extend the public CCTV footage retention period from 30 to at least 60 days, and launched efforts to establish a joint response system for missing persons cases involving the police, fire service, and coast guard. Meanwhile, the CCTVs used in the campaign were non-functional models with no capability for actual recording, surveillance, or collecting personal information. These installations were part of a temporary performance and were completely removed on the same day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.