South Korean serial killer fears grow as four missing people found dead on island within days
The popular South Korean holiday destination Jeju Island has become the centre of a worrying investigation after four missing people were found dead within three days.
The discoveries have led to the arrest of a police officer for the premature closure of multiple missing-person cases on the island and the country's president has called for greater police accountability.
The body of 37-year-old Jang Mi Ran was found on Monday, around 104 days after she was reported missing.
A man in his 60s was found dead on Saturday, 50 days after a missing person's report was filed with local police and another, in his 70s, was found by a person fishing.
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The fourth, as-yet unidentified body, was found near a valley in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, on Monday.
All four had previously been reported missing and were found dead on hiking trails and residential areas.
Investigations into the deaths led to the arrest of a 35-year-old police officer, surnamed Bu, on Tuesday on suspicion of dereliction of duty, falsifying official electronic records, and obstructing official duties, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
Bu denies the allegations and claims he had contacted Jang and the man in his 60s before closing the cases, claims that police have been unable to find records of.
Police are now reviewing all 298 missing-person cases handled by Bu, with 10 being looked at for possible improper closure.
Four more senior officers at Jeju Seobu police station have been suspended while the National Police Agency conducts an internal investigation to find out if they properly supervised how the cases were handled.
Fears growing of a serial killer on Juju Island
With so many missing people and the spate of dead bodies on Jeju, there are growing fears that a serial killer may be responsible – though there has been no official declaration that is the case and there is no suggestion that police officer Bu has directly hurt any of the missing people.
The BBC reports that Jang is believed to have committed suicide, having been found at a palm tree farm about 500 metres from where she was staying.
Suicide rates in South Korea are among the highest in the world, with violent crime rare.
However, that hasn't stopped scores of people on social media sharing that they have cancelled their planned trips to the island over fears for their safety.
A user called Pop EMPIRE wrote: "Personally cancelled my trip to Jeju Island next month over concerns going around right now."
Another called Salo added: "We’re cancelling our 3 days trip to Jeju in September because WTF."
Others have also shared creepy experiences they went through while visiting Jeju.
One account claimed to have been eating in a restaurant close by to their accommodation and the owner insisted on driving them back, though they said they had no problem walking the short distance.
It read: "Eventually, we got in, and while she was driving us back, she said how there aren't many people around here anymore, that there've been a lot of murders and missing people.
"But everyone just keeps quiet about it all.
"Then she went on to say that the missing ones are all tourists—tourists stick out so obviously as tourists, so it feels like they're being targeted for that reason.
"She kept warning us, no matter how close the accommodation is, to always take a taxi around, and she dropped us right in front of our place before leaving."
South Korea president's statement on Jeju Island
Lee Jae-myung, the nation's president, said on Tuesday in a cabinet meeting: "The recent breakdown in police discipline and irresponsibility in public safety matters have become a serious problem.
“Police are likely to wield the greatest power among state institutions,” adding that the public questioned whether the force could bear the responsibility.
"Responsibility must be strengthened in proportion to the size of the authority."
Police agencies across South Korea are now said to be reviewing previously closed missing-person reports dating to 2024, including 92,800 in Seoul and 25,605 - 99 per cent of which were closed - in Busan.
Topics: World News
Daniel Murphy