Is Officer Bu the Serial Killer Behind Jeju Island's Missing Persons Cases? Internet Has Theories

A South Korean police officer at the centre of a missing-persons scandal on Jeju Island has become the subject of a far darker internet theory: is Officer Bu a serial killer?

The speculation intensified after two people whose cases he allegedly closed were later found dead. Bu, a lieutenant in his mid-30s, is accused of falsely claiming he contacted missing people and falsifying police records. Investigators have not publicly linked him to any killings, but the case has prompted online detectives to question what else may have happened.

Officer Accused of Falsifying Missing-Persons Cases

Bu was assigned to the missing-persons team at Jeju Seobu Police Station and handled approximately 298 cases between March 2025 and July 2026.

Investigators allege he sometimes told families that missing relatives were safe but did not want their locations disclosed. He is accused of entering supposed conversations with missing people into official electronic systems despite investigators finding no phone records supporting those claims.

Two cases have drawn particular attention.

Jang Mi-ran, 37, disappeared in May 2026. Bu allegedly closed her case within hours after claiming he had spoken with her. Her body was discovered on 25 August at a palm-tree farm in Hallim-eup, around 500 metres from where she had been staying. Police believe she died by suicide.

Then a man in his 60s who disappeared from Jeju City in June was also reportedly the subject of a case Bu closed after claiming contact. His body was found on 23 August.

Bu is being investigated for offences including dereliction of duty, falsifying and using official electronic records and obstructing official duties through fraudulent means.

'Plot Twist': Internet Starts Asking if Bu Is a Killer

The deaths have fuelled a wave of speculation on social media and online forums.

One Reddit user summed up the darkest theory bluntly, 'Plot Twist. Officer Bu is the serial killer.' Another wrote, 'I wouldn't be surprised if Officer Bu turned out to be a serial killer.'

Others have focused less on the theory itself and more on the sheer number of cases handled by the officer.

'The scariest part was the fact that Officer Bu handled 298 cases since joining the missing persons team,' one commenter wrote, arguing that the figure warranted particularly close scrutiny.

Another user questioned whether Bu could have been covering for human traffickers, while others speculated about a wider police conspiracy. One commenter claimed it was difficult to imagine 'only 1 or 2 people' being involved given the number of cases.

Those claims remain internet theories. There is no publicly released evidence showing Bu participated in trafficking, homicide or a broader criminal network.

Other Reddit Users Think Bu Was Simply Lazy

Not everyone believes the scandal points to a serial killer.

Some users argued that the explanation could be considerably less sinister, suggesting Bu may have been lazy, overwhelmed or trying to reduce his workload by closing cases without proper investigation.

One commenter said he may have handled routine missing-person reports that were later resolved and then 'assumed the same with others that looked the same.'

One user even warned against the rush to extreme conclusions, writing, 'People are jumping to extreme conclusions based on speculation. Chill people.. lets wait for this to unravel.'

Officer Bu Had Previous Misconduct Reports

The controversy has also revived questions about Bu's previous disciplinary history.

In 2023, police received a report concerning suspected domestic violence involving him. An internal review followed, and he received a warning, according to local reports.

Bu was also investigated after allegedly entering a women's toilet at his police station on 22 July 2026. He was removed from duty on 11 August, days before the allegations over his handling of missing-person cases became public.

Police Review All 298 Jeju Missing-Person Cases

According to reports, police are now reviewing all 298 cases handled by Bu, with around 10 receiving closer scrutiny for potentially similar premature closures. Most people in the reviewed cases have since been located alive.

Four senior officers in his chain of command have been placed on administrative leave.

Meanwhile, the Jeju missing-persons scandal is a documented investigation into alleged police misconduct and false records. The serial-killer theory exists primarily because internet users are connecting disturbing coincidences and asking questions.

Whether those questions uncover something more sinister or simply expose a spectacular failure in police procedure remains to be established by investigators.