Soojung Lee Raises Doubts about Jang Miran's Cause of Death: "A Young Woman Hanging Herself from a Palm Tree at Night? That's Laughable"

Jang Miran's Death Presumed to Be by Hanging

"Do Not Hastily Dismiss the Possibility of a Crime Victim"

Soojung Lee, Professor of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University, has raised questions regarding the police's assumption that the cause of death for Jang Miran, who had been missing for an extended period in Jeju, was suicide by hanging.

Soojung Lee: "The question is whether there are signs of homicide"

Soojung Lee, Professor of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

On the 25th, Professor Lee shared an article through her Facebook page in which Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jaesung mentioned, "I received a report from the Commissioner of Jeju Police Agency stating that the cause of death for Jang was presumed to be hanging," in relation to the autopsy findings.

Referring to the article, Professor Lee criticized, "A young woman going out at night and hanging herself from a palm tree? That’s laughable." In a separate post, she said, "The crucial issue is whether there are indications of homicide." She urged, "Do not be hasty in claiming there is no possibility of a crime victim."

The police previously announced that at 10:46 a.m. on the 24th, a body was found in a palm tree grove in Hallim-eup, Jeju City. The autopsy confirmed that the body was indeed Jang. Police explained, "The fingerprints were missing," and added, "According to the forensic odontology examination, the teeth matched the missing person, according to preliminary verbal findings." They further stated, "DNA samples have also been collected for urgent analysis."

Based on the body's position and location at the time it was found, the police are presuming that Jang died by suicide by hanging. However, they emphasized that all possibilities remain open and are continuing to investigate the exact cause of death, including forensic analysis of Jang’s mobile phone.

'Jeju Missing Person' Jang Miran's Body Found After 104 Days

On the 24th, the body of Jang Miran, who had gone missing several months ago, was found in Hallim-eup, Jeju City. The police are controlling access to the palm tree farm in Suwon-ri where the body was discovered. Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on May 12 at 10:15 p.m., Jang was last seen leaving her long-term accommodation on CCTV footage. On the 15th of the same month at 6:43 p.m., Sergeant A of the Jeju Seobu Police Station received a missing person report from Jang's partner. However, the officer falsely stated, "I was able to reach Jang, but she asked not to share her location," and closed the case at 9:16 p.m.

Jang’s partner attempted to refile the report on the 17th of the following month, but the record left by Sergeant A prevented the report from being accepted. The search only resumed when Jang’s family filed a new report at the Nowon Police Station in Seoul on the 19th of that month.

Ultimately, 104 days after the initial missing person report, at 10:46 a.m. on the 24th, the police discovered a body presumed to be Jang during a joint search at a palm farm in Hallim-eup, Jeju City.

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