Jeju bodies deepen Korea missing-persons scandal as police reform looms
Four bodies have been found on Jeju Island amid a widening scandal over police mishandling missing-person cases, including the death of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran. A police sergeant, Bu, is accused of lying to families and prematurely closing cases, leading to administrative leave for four officers and a government-led push to reform the police. Authorities say Bu may have handled nearly 300 cases, prompting scrutiny of police discipline just as Seoul pursues reforms shifting investigative powers from prosecutors to the police. Jeju’s popularity as a tourist destination is contrasted with concerns about how missing persons cases are handled in South Korea.