South Korean officer falsifies missing person cases, two die

A South Korean police officer has admitted to closing missing persons cases without proper investigation in order to reduce his workload, an act that has sparked a national scandal.

Officer Bu, who worked on Jeju Island, was arrested earlier this month after falsifying records and lying to families of missing people. The scandal erupted as police belatedly reopened several cases, leading to the discovery of four bodies in recent weeks. Public outrage has forced authorities to act, with President Lee Jae Myung vowing police reform just as the government plans to expand police powers.

Bu has been charged with forgery, obstruction of duty, and dereliction of duty after admitting to closing at least two high-profile cases without investigation. In one case, he falsely told the family of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran that he had spoken to her and that she didn’t want contact—claiming she had died in a traffic accident when she hadn’t. Jang’s body was found near a palm plantation last week. In another case, Bu falsely claimed a missing man in his 60s had refused contact; the man was later found dead. Investigators now believe Bu may have prematurely closed up to 25 more cases, though some of those missing people were later found safe.

The scandal is politically explosive. South Korea’s government recently passed laws transferring full investigative power from prosecutors to police, a move critics say could worsen accountability. With over 70,000 adults reported missing each year—most resolved within a month—this case has deepened public distrust. The government now faces pressure to reverse the power shift and overhaul missing persons procedures. The crisis comes as South Korea grapples with high suicide rates and rare violent crime, making public safety a growing concern.