A scandal involving a South Korean police officer accused of falsifying documents in two missing person cases has intensified public distrust and highlighted deficiencies in police oversight. The cases, which resulted in the discovery of the missing individuals' bodies on Jeju Island, have prompted President Lee Jae Myung to order a review of police procedures.
The officer, identified by his surname Bu, allegedly closed a missing person report for a 37-year-old woman, Jang Mi-ran, who had been missing for over three months. Bu reportedly told the woman's boyfriend that he had spoken with her by phone and that she wished to keep her location private. Jang's body was later found on a palm tree farm on Jeju.
In a similar incident last month, Bu allegedly closed a missing person report for a 60-year-old man with a false statement. The man's body was discovered on Jeju on Saturday.
Police arrested Bu on Monday and are investigating all 298 missing person reports he handled since last year. Authorities are seeking to understand the motive behind the alleged falsification in these two cases.
"We feel deeply sorry for causing concerns to the public over the handling of missing person cases in Jeju," said acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong at a parliamentary committee meeting. "We will examine our system as a whole and make institutional improvements to prevent similar incidents from happening again." Yoo attributed the incident to a combination of individual error and systemic failure, noting that an under-resourced system previously allowed officers to close cases without supervisory approval.
Interior and Safety Minister Yun Hojung and Jeju's police chief Ko Pyeong-ki have also issued separate apologies.
This controversy follows earlier criticism of the police earlier this year. In that instance, officers were accused of destroying evidence related to the killing of a high school girl by the suspect, who was also a police officer. The father of the suspect and other officers allegedly intervened to help him avoid charges of intent to rape and a more severe sentence.
"Public anxiety has grown as flaws in the policing system have emerged, while confidence in the police has plummeted," the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper stated in an editorial Tuesday. "People are entitled to wonder where they can turn when even reporting a disappearance does not ensure an investigation."
Authorities also discovered two additional bodies on Jeju Island on Sunday and Monday. While these individuals were also reported missing, Bu was not involved in their cases, according to South Korean media.
The incidents have cast a shadow over Jeju, a popular tourist destination known for its volcanic landscapes. Social media has seen an increase in posts expressing fears about safety on the island, though Jeju officials report no significant change in tourist numbers.
In response, Jeju Governor Wi Seong-gon announced measures to enhance island safety, including the development of an integrated response manual, the installation of more security cameras, and increased joint patrols by police and civilian volunteers. "We will concentrate all our efforts on protecting the everyday lives of Jeju residents and visitors and upholding public confidence in Jeju as a safe destination," Wi stated at a news conference.
The unfolding scandal occurs as South Korea prepares for a restructuring of its criminal justice system, which will shift greater authority to the police by reducing the investigative powers of prosecutors.