Jeju Island police chief issues statement after bodies of four missing people found
The Jeju Island police chief has issued an apology after four missing people on the South Korean holiday island were found dead within three days.
The picturesque Jeju Island, typically a popular tourist destination, has been mired in controversy this week after a police officer, surnamed Bu, was arrested under suspicion of prematurely closing multiple missing-person cases.
The South Korean president labelled the situation a 'serious' problem and now the head of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Police Agency has spoken publicly as he promised all missing-persons cases on the island will be reinvestigated.
Talking in a public meeting on Thursday morning, chief Ko Pyeong-ki, via Korea JoongAng, said: “I sincerely apologise to the two individuals who were unable to reunite with their families and to their bereaved families.
Advert
“I feel a profound sense of responsibility as the police chief in charge of public safety on Jeju.”
It's reported that Ko also promised to reinvestigate every missing-persons case and that multilayered safeguards will be put in place to stop the situation happening again.
What has happened on Jeju Island
Controversy first sparked on Saturday, August 22, when a man in his 60s was found dead 50 days on since a missing-person report was filed.
Another person, in their 70s, was then found by a fisherman and a body was discovered near a valley in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, on Monday.
On the same day, the body of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran was found 500 meters from where she was staying, 104 days after she was first reported missing in May.
All four had been reported missing to the police and were found on hiking trails or residential areas.
Investigations into the deaths led to the arrest of 35-year-old police officer Bu on Tuesday for dereliction of duty, falsifying official electronic records, and obstructing official duties, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
Bu has denied the charges.
He claimed to have contacted Jang and the man in his 60s before closing the missing-person cases, but police were unable to find proof of the contact.
The BBC reports that Bu had allegedly told Jang's boyfriend he had spoken to her over the phone and that she had told him she did not want to speak to her boyfriend.
Jang was found on a palm tree farm and is believed to have committed suicide.
The man in his 60s had gone missing on June 28. Bu had reportedly closed the case and told his family he'd been found 'safe' but he did 'not wish to disclose his location to the family.'
The man's son told the press: "We believed the police when they said my father was safe and waited, but after 51 days, what returned was his body."
It's not yet clear if Bu was involved in the missing-persons cases for the other two found bodies, but all 298 of his cases are being reviewed and chief Ko promised to disclose the results.
Four other 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.
What else has been said about Jeju Island missing-persons cases?
The news has sparked concern among would-be tourists, with scores of people claiming on social media that they have cancelled planned trips to Jeju Island.
Amid rumours that something even more sinister may be going on, the Jeju Province issued a statement calling people to “refrain from spreading content that incites anxiety about Jeju’s safety."
As quoted by Hani, it read: “We express deep regret that unverified facts and exaggerated interpretations are being circulated in some media outlets and on social media regarding the recent regrettable police response to the missing person case.
"We are making every effort to ensure the safety of residents and tourists, and we will do our utmost to make Jeju even safer."
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."
Topics: World News
Daniel Murphy