Jeju missing persons scandal: Police say South Korea cop closed missing persons cases to avoid work

Jeju Island is known for its scenic views and reputation as a tourism draw. Four bodies were found over several days in August on Jeju, shaking the resort island and prompting calls for answers from the police.— hemis.fr pic via AFP

First Published: Tuesday, 01 Sep 2026 6:27 PM MYT

SEOUL, Sept 1 — A South Korean police officer lied in order to close over two dozen missing persons cases, including two people later found dead, so as to avoid additional work, authorities said today.

Two of the missing people were among four bodies found over several days in August on Jeju, shaking the resort island and prompting calls for answers from the police.

One case involved 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, whose body was discovered on August 24, months after her boyfriend reported her missing.

The resulting scandal prompted President Lee Jae Myung to order an investigation into the handling of Jang's case and to call for reforms within the police force.

Another case involved a man in his 60s who had also been reported missing.

The officer, surnamed Bu, was arrested last week, accused of recording Jang's death as a "traffic accident", while telling her family he had contacted her and she did not wish to be found.

Bu falsely closed the cases because he "was driven primarily by work-related negligence arising from accumulated workload pressures and fatigue associated with increased responsibilities", Jeju Police Agency detective Jung Tae-woon told reporters today.

"The suspect's evasive and irresponsible attitude is believed to have contributed to the offence," he added.

Police said they could not determine the cause of Jang's death because of the advanced decomposition of her body, a departure from their earlier assessment that there were no signs of foul play.

Police conducted a comprehensive review of around 300 missing persons cases handled by Bu over about 16 months.

They found that Bu falsely closed a further 25 cases without verifying the whereabouts of the missing or by deleting records after reporting the person dead.

All 25 individuals involved in those cases were eventually found safe, authorities said. — AFP