"Police Who Fabricated Case Closure Are the Real Culprits" "Organ Trafficking Ring Involved Too"... Jeju Rumors Spread Wildly

Successive Deaths of Missing Persons Followed by Police 'Fabricated Closure'
Unsubstantiated Rumors About Jeju Spread Rampantly Online
Tourism Industry Deeply Concerned Over 'Jeju Phobia'

As Jang Miran (age 37), who had been missing in Jeju, was found dead after 104 days, and it was revealed that the police officer handling her case had falsified the case’s closure, public distrust in law enforcement is mounting. Exacerbating the anxiety surrounding tourism in Jeju, unfounded rumors such as “connection to a Chinese organ trafficking ring” and “police involvement or protection” have rapidly spread online.

Travelers are passing in front of Jeju Airport. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Jeju Rumors Spread over 'Fabricated Case Closure' in the Jang Miran Incident

Jang disappeared after leaving her long-term lodging in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, at 10:15 p.m. on May 12. She was captured on nearby CCTV, and her partner filed a missing persons report with the Jeju Western Police Station at 6:43 p.m. on May 15.

At that time, the police checked Jang’s mobile phone location to search the Hallim Port area. However, a sergeant attached to Jeju Western Police Station, who was in charge of the case, is suspected of having closed the case about 2 hours and 30 minutes after the report by falsely telling the reporter that “contact was made with Jang, but she did not want her location disclosed,” even though, in reality, he had not contacted her at all. Investigators are now scrutinizing evidence that the officer deleted Jang-related files from the internal missing persons management system and falsely recorded the cause of death as well.

About two months later, Jang’s family filed another report from Seoul, prompting the investigation to resume. Police then tracked her whereabouts around Hallim Port. Ultimately, Jang was found on August 24, 104 days after her disappearance, at a palm plantation in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, approximately 400 meters from her lodging. Police are confirming her identity and investigating the cause of death, and on August 26, indicated that she may have died between the night of May 12, when she left her lodging, and the early hours of the next day.

The sergeant also faces allegations of closing another missing persons case—concerning a man in his 60s—under false pretenses, who was subsequently found deceased. The sergeant has been taken into custody on charges including dereliction of duty, falsification of official electronic records, use of false documents, and obstruction of justice through deceit. Police are conducting further reviews of other missing persons cases handled by the officer.

This has led to online posts and comments presenting various unsubstantiated suspicions about the incident as if they were established facts. Claims such as “The police are connected to a Chinese organ trafficking ring” and “Officers were directly involved in the crime” have been particularly prominent.

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency’s bulletin board has been flooded with complaints like, “Are the police collaborating with Chinese nationals to traffic people?” and “It’s only a matter of time before Jeju becomes Chinese territory.” On major online communities such as FM Korea, posts containing unchecked claims—such as “The police didn’t just shirk their duties but actually participated in murder,” or “The Chinese human trafficking ring abandoned the victim and the police covered it up”—have gone viral, amassing more than 900,000 views.

Past Celebrity Experiences Resurface, Fueling Controversy

Social media posts and past experiences shared by celebrities are also resurfacing, further fueling the controversy. Hong Hyegeol, a broadcaster and physician who has lived in Jeju for seven years, recently posted on Facebook, “Jeju is beautiful, but you must never take it lightly,” and advised, “I don’t recommend walking alone, even during the day.” Amid criticism, Mr. Hong explained, “I only meant to urge caution, not to imply Jeju is dangerous,” but the reaction did not subside. Similarly, actress Jin Jaeyoung deleted her Instagram post stating, “These days the news from Jeju makes even a walk seem frightening.”

Travelers are passing by next to the palm plantation where the body of Jang Miran, a long-term missing person from Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, was found on the 26th. Photo by Yonhap News.

Singer Sung Hyunwoo, formerly of the group Limitless, also drew belated attention for recounting his experience of being threatened with a weapon while traveling in Jeju. In February, through YouTube, he revealed that while visiting the Seongsan area in 2021, he was threatened by a drunken person wielding a weapon and nearly killed, adding, “The police said it was common in Jeju.”

Jeju Province and Tourism Industry Take Action to Curb Rumor-Spreading

With the rapid spread of “Jeju phobia,” Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the local tourism industry are deeply concerned about the aftermath. The industry, in particular, worries that a prolonged circulation of such baseless conspiracy theories could deliver a serious blow to the regional economy. Industry insiders commented, “While inadequate police handling has created distrust, reckless rumors translating into widespread fear of Jeju must be stopped,” calling for transparent information disclosure.

Police investigators are also striving to dispel the rumors. The police, based on the initial autopsy of Jang’s body, found no unusual injuries such as fractures from external shock, and thus, so far, consider the likelihood of foul play to be low, while continuing efforts to determine the exact cause of death.

The police discovered the body of Jang Miran, who had been missing for several months, at a palm tree farm in Suwon-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju City on the 24th, and are conducting an on-site investigation. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On August 26, the Jeju provincial government announced its official stance: “We express deep regret over the spread of unverified and exaggerated content via certain media outlets and social networks,” adding, “We politely urge everyone to refrain from distributing fear-mongering content and to delete any false information.” The province plans to hold an emergency meeting with related agencies on August 27 to formulate comprehensive countermeasures for a “Safe Jeju,” and pledges to directly address public security concerns at the border and in local policing through swift and accurate police briefings.

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