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12 clusters · 85 sources · 15 days · First seen · Last updated

Jeju police scandal and subsequent safety reforms

Overview

The discovery of Jang Mi-ran’s body in a palm grove on August 24, after 104 days missing, has triggered a major scandal involving the Jeju Police Agency. While initial autopsy results suggested Jang likely died by hanging, the National Forensic Service later determined the cause of death is unknown due to advanced body decomposition. Investigations revealed that Officer Bu (referred to as Officer A) of the Jeju Seobu Police Station closed her missing person report only two and a half hours after receiving it, falsely claiming to have made contact. Officer Bu is accused of using ‘death codes’—specifically the ‘traffic accident casualty’ code—to improperly close approximately 298 cases. Data indicates that between March 2023 and July 2024, Officer Bu personally closed 298 adult missing person cases, accounting for approximately 28.4% of the 1,048 total adult missing person reports filed in Jeju during that period. Of these, 63 cases were either never entered into the profiling system or were deleted. Officer A has admitted to the misconduct, citing work fatigue and the burden of managing ongoing cases as motivations. Following the investigation, Officer A was referred to the prosecution on September 1st on charges including dereliction of duty, forgery of public electronic records, and obstruction of official duties. New details indicate the misconduct involved 141 reports of individuals protected under the Missing Children Act, including children and those with intellectual disabilities or dementia. Among the 298 cases, 15 were falsely recorded as deaths to remove them from management lists, and 10 were closed without verifying whereabouts. While the locations of 25 specifically identified suspicious cases have since been confirmed, the family of one deceased individual is now considering a state compensation claim and plans to demand the officer’s dismissal.

Entities

Jang Mi-ran · Jeju Provincial Police Agency · Jeju Seobu Police Station · Jeju Island · National Forensic Service

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Jeju police officer referred to prosecution for falsifying missing persons records

    A Jeju police officer has been referred to prosecutors for falsifying 63 missing person records, including cases involving children and vulnerable individuals protected under the Missing Children Act.

  2. 7 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Jeju police oversight campaign launched following misconduct scandal

    Publicity expert Lee Je-seok launched a guerrilla campaign in Jeju using symbolic CCTVs to demand police accountability following a scandal involving a falsified missing person investigation.

  3. 7 days ago

    [CRIME] 15 sources
    Jeju police officer referred to prosecutors for falsifying missing persons cases

    A Jeju police officer has been referred to prosecutors for falsely closing missing persons cases to avoid workload, leading to the delayed discovery of several bodies, including Jang Mi-ran.

  4. 10 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    South Korean police face scrutiny over Jeju missing person case

    Discrepancies in a Jeju missing person case have prompted the Korean National Police Agency to announce new oversight measures, amid calls for increased staffing and structural reform.

  5. 11 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Jeju police conduct reconstruction experiment in palm grove death case

    Jeju police conducted a reconstruction experiment at a palm grove in Hallim-eup to investigate the death of a missing woman in her 30s, keeping both suicide and homicide possibilities open.

  6. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Jeju Island tourism faces scrutiny following discovery of tourist's body

    Autopsy results suggest tourist Jang Mi-ran died by hanging on Jeju Island. The case, involving police misconduct, has sparked safety concerns and impacted local tourism.

  7. 12 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Jeju police investigate death of woman missing for 104 days

    Police in Jeju, South Korea, are investigating the death of Jang Mi-ran, found dead at a palm farm 104 days after her disappearance. Authorities suspect suicide but continue to probe for criminal involvement.

  8. 12 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Jeju Province expands safety measures following missing persons cases

    Jeju Province is expanding CCTV retention periods and AI surveillance to enhance public safety following recent missing persons cases and concerns over police response effectiveness.

  9. 13 days ago

    [CRIME] 60 sources
    Jeju Island police scandal erupts over falsified missing person reports

    A Jeju Island police officer has been arrested for falsifying missing person reports, leading to the discovery of several bodies and a massive investigation into nearly 300 cases.

  10. 15 days ago

    [CRIME] 40 sources
    Jeju Police under investigation after multiple missing persons found dead

    A Jeju police officer is under investigation after falsely closing multiple missing persons cases, leading to the delayed discovery of several bodies, including that of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran.

  11. 17 days ago

    [CRIME] 10 sources
    Jeju Police Officer Arrested for Falsifying Missing Person Cases

    A Jeju police officer was arrested for falsely closing missing person cases and deleting records, leading to the delayed discovery of a man's body and the ongoing disappearance of a 30-year-old woman.

  12. 19 days ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Jeju missing person case reopens amid police misconduct allegations

    The family of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran is seeking help to find her after she went missing in Jeju in May. Police are investigating claims that an officer falsely reported contact to close the case.

Sources

afamily.vn · allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · baogialai.com.vn · biz.heraldcorp.com · blockchainseoul.kr · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · communitynews.com.au · dexerto.com · disway.id · ekbis.harianjogja.com · english.hani.co.kr · flash.pt · folgefonnsenteret.no · gazetedamga.com.tr · global.liputan6.com · globalnation.inquirer.net · guardianweekly.co.uk · h21.hani.co.kr · halktv.com.tr · hani.co.kr · hidomin.com · hoahoctro.tienphong.vn · ibtimes.co.uk · idomin.com · idsn.co.kr · ijejutoday.com · imaeil.com · incheonilbo.com · indeep.jp · independent.co.uk · isplus.com · jejumaeil.net · jejusori.net · jnilbo.com · joongboo.com · kamuajans.net · kenh14.vn · kgnews.co.kr · kibrisgazetesi.com · kisahdunia.com · koreaherald.com · kpophit.com · kyeonggi.com · ladbible.com · lifestyle.liputan6.com · m.imaeil.com

This summary has been updated 45 times: see revision history