Missing Woman's Body Found in Jeju 100 Days After Police Closed Her Case, National Probe Ordered

The body of a woman was found on Jeju Island on Monday, on the first day of the search by an inter-agency team. The body was believed to be that of Jang Mi-ran, 37, who was reported missing for 104 days.

The incident has caught nationwide attention after it was learned that a police officer closed the case as solved. Hundreds of similar missing-person cases were believed to have been closed as well without thorough investigation.

Missing Since May

'Around 10:46 a.m. on the same day, a police officer conducting a joint search near Hallim-eup, Jeju City, discovered a body presumed to be Ms. Jang,' the Jeju Special Self-Government Provincial Police Agency announced on 24 August. 'Personal belongings that Ms. Jang was carrying when she went missing, including her mobile phone and gold bracelet, were also found.'

'It was confirmed that no suicide note was discovered. The police plan to confirm the exact identity and cause of death through forensic examination,' the agency also stated.

Jang was reported missing by her boyfriend in May. However, a police officer from the Jeju Western Police Station concluded the investigation, claiming that he made contact with Jang. Further, the officer said Jang 'did not wish to contact her family.' The case was reportedly closed within two and a half hours.

But the family made another missing-person report last month, which prompted police to dig deeper into the case. It was eventually discovered that the officer assigned to the case never attempted to locate or contact Jang. A joint force comprising 400 police officers, soldiers, government personnel and civilians was created to locate the missing person.

The body was already in an advanced state of decomposition when it was found. Local reports said the body was found a mere 10-minute walk from Jang's last-known location, her island accommodation.

President Orders Probe

President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough review of the police investigation into the disappearance of Jang and in closing missing-person cases. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Lee expressed deep regret over the discovery of the body on Jeju Island.

The President told police to develop a fundamental reform plan to improve the handling of missing-person cases. The police officer who closed Jang's case was placed on emergency arrest on Saturday but was later released because the court ruled that some legal requirements were not met.

Prosecutors are requesting a detention warrant while the officer is in police custody. South Korean laws prohibit naming criminals unless a formal conviction has been handed.

The subject officer has been suspended from duty since 11 August for separate allegations involving a sex crime. He was part of the missing-person investigation team of the Jeju Western Police Station.

During his stint as a missing-person investigator, he closed more than 200 reports using similar tactics he used to close Jang's case. This came to light as another body was found on 21 August in Jeju City.

The body belonged to a man in his 60s, who was reported missing 51 days before. The same officer who handled Jang's case also closed the missing-person report for the subject. However, the family filed another report on Friday and the body was found the same day.

The officer will be facing possible charges of dereliction of duty, fabrication and use of official electronic records.