Jeju Island's growing missing persons scandal has taken a disturbing turn after Officer Bu emerged as an alleged common denominator in several cases that were reportedly closed using false assurances.
The officer is accused of claiming he had contacted missing people and confirmed they were safe, only for investigators to later discover that at least some of those individuals were dead.
The revelations have intensified public anger, triggered wider police audits and raised uncomfortable questions about how many families may have been given similar assurances.
Officer Bu Allegedly Closed Cases With Fake Contact
The case that brought the controversy into sharp focus involved 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, who was reported missing by her boyfriend on 15 May. According to investigators, Officer Bu allegedly told her boyfriend that he had spoken directly with Jang and that she wanted to remain hidden.
Jang's body was eventually discovered 104 days after she disappeared, at a palm farm in Hallim-eup. The location was only around 400 metres from where she had been staying, adding to concerns about the length of time taken to investigate her disappearance.
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Police reportedly began checking nearby surveillance footage 98 days after the missing persons report was filed. By then, crucial footage had already been permanently deleted.
The same alleged method surfaced in another case involving a man in his 60s who disappeared in July. Officer Bu reportedly told his relatives that the man wanted strict privacy, leading authorities to close the case. He was later found dead 51 days after disappearing.
The repeated use of the same explanation has now placed Officer Bu at the centre of the investigation into possible failures involving other missing persons cases.
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Online Theories Put Officer Bu Under a Darker Spotlight
The revelations have fuelled intense speculation online, with some users questioning whether Officer Bu could have been protecting people involved in criminal activity. One commenter asked whether he might have been covering up cases for human traffickers and questioned whether investigators were examining that possibility.
Another user pushed back against the trafficking theory, arguing that people taken by traffickers would more likely be moved away from Jeju rather than later being discovered dead on the island.
Authorities have not established a connection between the deaths, nor have they confirmed any human trafficking link.
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His 298 Cases Are Now Under Investigation
Officer Bu's role has attracted particular attention because he had handled 298 cases after joining the missing persons team at Jeju Seobu Police Station. Authorities are now reviewing those files to determine whether any were improperly closed or contained falsified information.
The controversy has already resulted in disciplinary action. Commanders at the Jeju Seobu Police Station were suspended while an internal review was launched, while Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong issued a public apology over the handling of the cases.
The Jeju District Court later released Officer Bu after reviewing an arrest warrant connected to allegations of dereliction of duty and falsifying official records. The court determined that there was not an urgent need to keep him in custody.
His release has done little to quiet public concern, particularly because the investigation into his previous cases remains ongoing.
