Why was a Jeju police officer indicted over missing person cases?

Prosecutors said he fraudulently closed the cases of a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s after falsely claiming he had contacted them. He allegedly did not take any measures to find either person.

When were the Jeju missing person cases reported and later closed?

The woman surnamed Jang was reported missing on May 15, and the man surnamed Park was reported missing on July 2. Prosecutors said the officer later closed both cases after falsely reporting contact with them.

Prosecutors indict Jeju police officer over mishandling of missing person cases

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Summary

Prosecutors in Jeju indicted a 34-year-old police officer on Friday for fraudulently closing missing person cases earlier this year. He is accused of falsely reporting contact with a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s, then taking no steps to locate them. Prosecutors said he may have done so to avoid reporting to superiors or handling handover paperwork. The cases intensified scrutiny of police practices and led the National Police Agency to reexamine about 310,000 missing person cases from the past three years.

Key Facts

The Jeju District Prosecutors’ Office said the officer was placed under arrest last month before being indicted on Friday.
The officer is accused of closing the case of a woman surnamed Jang after she was reported missing on May 15.
He is also accused of closing the case of a man surnamed Park after he was reported missing on July 2.
The bodies of both Jang and Park were found on Jeju Island last month, days after possible foul play was reported and intensive searches began.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 18, 2026 4:28 pm KST

A police office, center, accused of improperly handling missing person cases, is transferred to the prosecution outside the Jeju Dongbu Police Station in Jeju, Sept. 1. Yonhap

JEJU — Prosecutors on Friday indicted a police officer on charges of fraudulently closing missing person cases on the southern resort island of Jeju earlier this year.

The 34-year-old, who was placed under arrest last month, is accused of closing a case of a woman in her 30s, surnamed Jang, after fraudulently reporting that he had come into contact with her, shortly after she was reported missing on May 15.

He also faces charges of closing the case of a 60-something man, surnamed Park, also after falsely reporting that he had contacted the person reported missing July 2, according to the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office.

The officer allegedly did not take any measures to locate either of the two reported missing.

Prosecutors believe the officer closed the cases so that he could avoid having to report to higher-ups or handle the paperwork for handing them over to others.

The bodies of both Jang and Park were found on the island last month, only days after possible foul play was reported and intensive search efforts got under way.

The cases drew intense public scrutiny over police practices, prompting the National Police Agency to reexamine about 310,000 missing person cases reported over the past three years.

The agency has yet to report any additional fraudulently closed cases.

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