South Korean officer falsified dozens of missing-person closures to dodge workload

An investigation revealed that a South Korean police officer, surnamed Bu, deliberately closed more than two dozen missing-person files without confirming the individuals’ status, including two cases that later resulted in bodies being found on Jeju island. In one instance, Bu logged the death of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran as a traffic accident and told her family she had declined to be located. President Lee Jae Myung responded by ordering an inquiry into the handling of Jang’s case and calling for police reforms.

Jeju Police Agency detective Jung Tae-woon said Bu’s actions stemmed from work-related fatigue and an effort to avoid additional duties. A comprehensive audit of about 300 cases handled by Bu over roughly 16 months uncovered 25 falsified closures, all of which involved people who were eventually found unharmed. Bu was arrested last week and faces charges for falsifying official records. The episode has raised concerns about systemic pressures within South Korea’s law-enforcement agencies.