Police officer admits to closing missing person cases to avoid work

What the report says

A South Korean police officer on Jeju island has admitted to closing missing-person cases without properly investigating them, according to the Jeju Provincial Police and BBC World News. The officer, identified by the surname Bu, was arrested earlier this month after allegations that he fabricated contacts with missing people and prematurely shut cases to reduce his workload.

Police said Bu was charged with forgery of public electronic records, obstruction of official duties and dereliction of duty. In the cases described by authorities, he allegedly recorded false information in official systems, including claims that he had spoken with missing people and that one person had died in a traffic accident. The BBC reported that the officer later acknowledged, in effect, that he had closed cases carelessly because he felt pressure over case handovers and did not want the extra work.

The scandal has intensified public concern after police launched delayed searches and found four bodies in recent weeks on Jeju, a popular holiday destination. BBC World News said one missing woman was later found dead near a palm plantation, while another missing man in his 60s was also found dead. Police believe Bu may have improperly closed as many as 25 other cases, though some of those people were later confirmed safe.

The episode has become politically sensitive in South Korea as President Lee Jae Myung has promised police reform amid broader debate over expanded police powers and public trust in law enforcement.