Police Officer’s Admission Fuels Jeju Missing‑Persons Scandal

In a startling confession, Officer Bu – whose surname is the one used by local police – admitted to closing cases involving missing persons on the popular holiday island of Jeju without ever investigating them. He says he did this to avoid an increasing workload, claiming that he had “thought about the case carelessly” and that keeping it open would have added too many tasks to his plate, or so he has stated.

Bu was arrested earlier this month amid a mounting public backlash after the police had made belated searches for several missing people on Jeju. Since the incident, the authorities uncovered four bodies in recent weeks – a grim confirmation that some of the cases had indeed ended tragically.

In the two high‑profile cases previously dismissed by Bu, the officer fabricated reports that the missing individuals had spoken with him and that they refused police contact. For instance, 37‑year‑old Jang Mi‑ran, reported missing in May, was listed by Bu as having died in a traffic accident – a claim that was later proven false when her body was found near a palm tree plantation on the island a week ago.

The police bureau charged Bu with forgery of public electronic records, obstruction of official duties and dereliction of duty, and the police statement highlighted his dishonesty and the “pressure over case handover” that spurred the premature closure.

President Lee Jae Myung, observing the scandal unfold, pledges a comprehensive reform of the police force, noting that “a few loach‑like figures are muddying the well water” and damaging the reputation of diligent officers. This vow comes at a politically sensitive moment, as the government has recently passed laws transferring full investigative power from prosecutors to police, a move intended to reduce prosecutorial influence in politics but that has drawn criticism for potential corruption and incompetence.

The scandal underscores the delicate balance between efficiency and accountability, reminding stakeholders that even a handful of corrupt or negligent individuals can severely erode public trust in law enforcement.

Published 4 hours ago – BBC News