Major questions raised over one of four missing people found dead on island within days
Major new questions have emerged after another missing person on an island was found dead.
The popular South Korean holiday destination Jeju Island is now a hive of police enquiries after four people were found dead within the space of three days.
The discoveries have led to the arrest of a police officer for the premature closure of multiple missing-person cases.
Meanwhile the country's president Lee Jae Myung has called for greater police accountability amid ongoing enquiries.
Advert
Now, new questions have been raised after the body of a woman was found more than 100 days from her disappearance.
Jang Mi-ran's lifeless body was discovered on Monday (24 August) at a palm tree farm on the island about 400 metres from where she had been staying.
Local reports said that Jang, aged 37, had left the accommodation shortly after 10pm on May 10. The farm where her body was eventually found 104 days later is less than 10-minutes away in a secluded area, according to the Korea Herald.
"I don't understand it"
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoo Jae-sung said Monday that there were 'no signs yet suggesting foul play' and that authorities preliminarily believed Jang had died by hanging, based on a report from the Jeju police chief.
However, her boyfriend told TV Chosun: "I don't understand it either.
"She repeatedly told me the place scared her when passing by, so I can't understand why she would be found there."
Another local resident meanwhile explained" "The farm is densely planted with Canary Island date palms with sharp, rigid fronds. It's not a tree with typical branches; getting too close will prick you."
"Hanging a rope on that tree is almost impossible, even for men."
After being filed as a missing person, her family claimed that Bu, the officer who handled the case claimed to have had contact with the 37-year-old.
According to Korean media, it was later discovered that he had lied about contacting the woman, who it was claimed he said did not want to be contacted.
A man in his 60s was also 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.
The fourth, as-yet unidentified body, was found near a valley in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, on Monday (24 August). 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.
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 also been suspended while the National Police Agency conducts an internal investigation to find out if they properly supervised how the cases were handled.
Police review previously-closed missing person reports
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: Travel, World News
James Holt