Jeju Island Missing-Person Cases Trigger Nationwide Police Reform Push

Four people reported missing on Jeju Island were found dead on August 22-24, 2026. Victims included 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, a man in his 60s, a man in his 70s, and “Mr C.” Two deaths (Jang and the man in his 60s) were linked to frontline officer Bu, who closed their files without confirming safety.

Four bodies found on South Korea’s Jeju Island as police face scrutiny over mishandled missing-person cases

Jeju, a top tourist destination with over 13 million visitors in 2025, classifies missing adults as “runaways” under National Police Agency rules, limiting powers such as mandatory CCTV access or DNA comparison. The island’s low violent-crime rate has fostered a perception that adult disappearances need less urgency, a view now under scrutiny.

Four bodies found on South Korea’s Jeju Island as police face scrutiny over mishandled missing-person cases

• South Korean police recorded 70,814 adult missing-person reports in 2025; 99.7 % were closed without formal investigation.

Four bodies found on South Korea’s Jeju Island as police face scrutiny over mishandled missing-person cases

• Officer Bu handled 298 reports over roughly 1 year 5 months; about 10 are under review for improper closure.

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

• A separate audit will examine 310,000 missing-person cases closed in the past three years.

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

President Lee Jae Myung will address police accountability at a cabinet meeting on August 26.

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Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong apologized and pledged reforms, including mandatory supervisory sign-off before any case can be closed.

Explainer: How Jeju’s missing-person cases exposed gaps in South Korea’s police system

National Office of Investigation head Hong Seok-ki said, “I apologise to the public, and will reform the system so that something like this does not happen again.”

Explainer: How Jeju’s missing-person cases exposed gaps in South Korea’s police system

Opposition voices argue the scandal exposes systemic gaps. Commentator Jeong warned that “public confidence in the police is shaking. Once the prosecution service disappears in October, case burials like this will only intensify.”

Explainer: How Jeju’s missing-person cases exposed gaps in South Korea’s police system

Democratic Party Representative Lee Un-ju stressed the need for cooperative oversight, stating that “even if the principle of separating investigation and prosecution is maintained, the system must allow for close cooperation, involvement and information sharing throughout the process.”

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

Professor Lee Keon-su of Baekseok University called for legislative change: “A law on missing adults is needed to establish clear rules for investigating cases, conducting searches and determining when a case can be closed.”

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

• “After experiencing on the field that the absolute majority of missing adults are found quickly, [the officers] tend to assume all cases are like that,” — Lee Yung-hyeock, Konkuk University

BBC NewsFour bodies found on South Korea’s Jeju Island as police face scrutiny over mishandled missing-person cases South Korea’s Lee calls for greater police accountability after Jeju missing person cases The Independent

• “A law on missing adults is needed to establish clear rules for investigating cases, conducting searches and determining when a case can be closed,” — Lee Keon-su, Baekseok University

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

Sources differ on the scope of the review. Reuters-linked reports cite 298 cases handled by Bu, with roughly 10 under investigation. Other outlets reference a broader audit of 310,000 closed cases over three years. The exact overlap remains unclear.

Four bodies found on South Korea’s Jeju Island as police face scrutiny over mishandled missing-person cases

• The National Police Agency will continue its internal inspection of the 298 Bu cases until the end of November.

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

• A revised Criminal Procedure Act, slated for October, will expand police investigative authority and prompt lawmakers to consider additional safeguards for missing-adult cases.

Jeju missing person cases raise questions over growing police powers

• Four senior officers were removed from duty on August 25 pending investigation.

Explainer: How Jeju’s missing-person cases exposed gaps in South Korea’s police system

The Jeju incidents serve as a litmus test for South Korea’s ability to balance expanded police powers with transparent oversight, especially for vulnerable adult missing-person cases.

Four bodies found on South Korea’s Jeju Island as police face scrutiny over mishandled missing-person cases