Jeju Police Officer Admits to Falsifying Missing Persons Reports After Initial Denial

A police officer in Jeju, identified as Bu, has admitted to fabricating missing persons reports, a significant turn after initially maintaining his innocence. The officer, who is facing charges including dereliction of duty, confessed to not having actually spoken to the missing individuals, despite his earlier claims of confirming their well-being over the phone.

Initially, Bu insisted he had contacted the missing persons and that they did not wish to communicate with family or friends, leading him to close two cases: one involving a 37-year-old named Jang and another concerning a man in his 60s. However, evidence, including call records, later emerged proving he had no contact. In Jang's case, it was also discovered that Bu had entered a false cause of death – traffic accident – into the system and even deleted related records.

Authorities suspect Bu may be attempting to mitigate his sentence by only admitting to parts of the crime that are clearly contradicted by evidence. A criminal psychologist has been involved to investigate his motives and the full extent of his actions. Further revelations indicate that the family of the 60-year-old man had reported concerns about his potential suicide. Bu allegedly told the family, approximately five hours after the report, that the individual had "no intention of committing suicide." This man was later found dead, with his death estimated to have occurred around the time Bu claimed to have spoken with him.

The mishandling of these cases has highlighted systemic issues within the police force. In response, Jeju province plans to discuss extending the retention period for CCTV footage with the Personal Information Protection Commission. This measure aims to prevent similar situations where crucial evidence is lost due to automatic deletion after the standard 30-day period, particularly in cases involving vulnerable individuals.

The incident has drawn attention from politicians across the spectrum. Members of the Democratic Party met with the Jeju Provincial Police Chief to discuss necessary police reforms, stating the case reveals systemic problems beyond individual misconduct. Similarly, leaders from the People Power Party visited the site where Jang's body was found and met with the police chief, criticizing the potential reduction of prosecutorial review and its impact on public trust.