298 Missing Cases Reopened After Jeju Cop Allegedly Cleared 2 People Later Found Dead

Four bodies have been found while there are more than 200 missing case reports in 17 months (Photo for illustration purposes only) (Credit: Little forest 작은 숲/Pexels)

A South Korean police officer has been detained after allegedly closing missing-person cases without confirming the individuals were safe, prompting authorities to review all 298 cases he handled over 17 months.

Officer Bu, 35, is accused of falsely recording that he had contacted missing people before closing their cases. Two people whose cases he allegedly closed, 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran and a man in his 60s, were later found dead on Jeju Island after searches resumed.