Pyo Changwon Calls Police's 'False Case Closure' in Jeju Missing Person Case "A Criminal Act With No Excuse"

Pyo Changwon: "No Definitive Conclusions Can Be Made About the Jang Miran Case"

The body believed to be that of Jang Miran (37), who went missing in Jeju last May, was discovered 104 days after her disappearance. Pyo Changwon, head of the Pyo Changwon Crime Science Research Institute, stated, "So far, there are no clear signs of homicide or evidence of involvement by a third party."

"Exact Cause of Death Must Be Determined Through National Forensic Service Autopsy"

Police are conducting a search for the missing person, Jang Miran, around Hallim Port in Hallim-eup, Jeju City on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News.

In an interview with CBS Radio's "Park Sungtae's News Show" on the 25th, Pyo said, "Based on the principles of profiling and forensic science, at this stage, it is not possible to make any assumptions or definitive conclusions."

However, he added, "Death by hanging refers to cervical compression due solely to gravity, and in such cases, it is highly likely that the event resulted from the person's own actions. Operationally, the possibility of suicide is considered high, but it cannot be definitively concluded. Caution is still warranted at this stage."

He continued, "Since the autopsy of the body will be conducted by the National Forensic Service, the exact cause of death and the possibility of third-party involvement must ultimately be determined comprehensively through the autopsy by the National Forensic Service, thorough scientific investigation by the police, and further inquiry."

He also said, "When considering the time of disappearance, the informant's statement, the clothing and belongings during the outing, and subsequent CCTV footage, the first scenario to consider is a short walk on foot. Of course, whether Ms. Jang was still alive by that time cannot be confirmed, but the likelihood that her body could have been found early is very high."

Pyo especially emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the police officer who prematurely closed the case. He noted, "Steps must be taken to prevent recurrence, and measures for improvement are necessary," calling it "an inexcusable criminal act." He further criticized, "I believe a criminal infiltrated the police force and abused the authority and system of the position to commit a crime."

Body Believed to Be Jeju Long-Term Missing Person Jang Miran Discovered After 104 Days

Police discovered the body of Rose Miran, who had gone missing months ago, at a palm tree farm in Suwon-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju City on the 24th, and are conducting an on-site investigation. Yonhap News Agency

Previously, on May 12 at around 10:15 p.m., Jang was last seen leaving her long-stay accommodation on closed-circuit TV footage. At 6:43 p.m. on May 15, a police sergeant from Jeju Western Police Station received a missing person report from Jang's partner but falsely claimed, "I spoke to Jang, but she asked me not to disclose her location," and closed the case at 9:16 p.m. that day.

However, on August 24 at 10:46 a.m., the Jeju Metropolitan Police Agency announced that, during a joint search at a palm tree farm in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, they discovered a body believed to be Jang.

The body was so severely decomposed that identification was not possible, but clothing, shoes, a gold bracelet, and a mobile phone matching Jang's description at the time of her disappearance were collected at the scene. No suicide note was found at the site. The police plan to determine the exact identity and cause of death through investigation and a forensic autopsy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.