Family of woman whose missing-person case was falsely closed barred from palm farm and demands officer’s dismissal

The brother of a woman found dead after 104 days missing was turned away from the Jeju palm farm where her body was discovered. He had flown to the island to see the place where his sister was last known to have stayed and take photographs, but police stopped him at the cordon.

The family had initially waited after a police officer told them she had made a phone call and asked that her location not be disclosed. Her boyfriend reported her missing on May 15, three days after contact with her ended. When she failed to return for more than two months, the family filed another report. She was later found dead at the farm, only about 400 meters from her residence.

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They have already sent the officer’s case to prosecutors, conducted the reenactment and completed the forensic examination, so I believe the family should be shown the scene with an officer accompanying them, as long as the site is not disturbed.

The brother said he had wanted to see the site from a distance, but police refused to let him enter. The family’s lawyer, Kim Min-ho, argued that investigators had already sent the officer’s case to prosecutors, conducted a reenactment and completed forensic work. He said the family should therefore be allowed to view the location with an official, without disturbing the scene.

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The officer abandoned the most basic and essential duty of a police officer, which is to protect people’s lives, by falsely closing missing-person cases when the golden time can determine whether someone lives or dies.

Police have described the death as an apparent hanging, but questions have continued. Jeju police conducted a reenactment at the site on Aug. 27. The officer is in custody on allegations including dereliction of duty for falsely closing the woman’s missing-person case and another involving a man in his 60s. He told investigators that he treated the missing adult’s case casually and falsely closed it because transferring an unresolved case would create additional work. Police are also investigating allegations involving 25 other missing-person cases.

After meeting the prosecutor handling the investigation, Kim demanded the officer’s dismissal. He said the family wanted a responsible investigation that would allow them to accept the findings whether the death was suicide or homicide. The family also plans to file a damages lawsuit against the officer and the state.

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Even if it was suicide, and even if it was homicide, please conduct the investigation responsibly and sincerely so that our family can accept the result.