World News
South Korean Police Officer Arrested After Admitting to Falsely Closing Missing Persons Cases
Searches launched after the revelations led to the discovery of four bodies on Jeju island as public backlash mounts over police misconduct.
The short version
- A South Korean police officer on Jeju island, identified by his surname Bu, was arrested after admitting he forged records and closed missing persons cases without investigating to reduce his workload.
- Following belated searches initiated after the misconduct was uncovered, authorities discovered the bodies of four missing individuals, including a 37-year-old woman and a man in his 60s.
- President Lee Jae Myung promised police reforms in response to the public outcry, which comes as the government plans to shift investigative powers from prosecutors to the police.
Key facts
- The Jeju Provincial Police charged an officer surnamed Bu with dereliction of duty, obstruction of official duties, and forgery of public electronic records.[BBC News]
- Officer Bu admitted to police that he closed cases out of pressure over workload and case handovers, falsely assuming adult missing persons cases could be treated carelessly.[BBC News]
- Authorities found four bodies during delayed searches launched after Bu's actions came to light.[BBC News]
- In one case involving 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, Bu fabricated claims of contacting her, falsely logged that she died in a traffic accident, and closed the case before her body was found near a palm plantation.[BBC News]
- In a separate case, Bu falsely claimed a missing man in his 60s did not want to be contacted; the man was later found dead.[BBC News]
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over the incident and pledged to reform the police force.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Police believe Officer Bu may have prematurely closed up to 25 additional missing persons cases, though the full extent of his misconduct remains under investigation.[BBC News]