Prosecutors Launch Search and Seizure at Jeju Police... Forced Investigation into ‘Fabricated Closure of Missing Persons Cases’

Simultaneous Search and Seizure at Jeju Provincial and West Police Stations
Compulsory Investigation Launched a Week After Suspect’s Detention
Focusing on Missing Persons System Review and Command Structure

In relation to the unprecedented 'fabricated closure of missing persons cases' incident—where front-line police officers falsified and closed missing persons cases that directly impact public safety, such as the case of a woman in her 30s reported missing in Jeju and ultimately found dead—prosecutors on September 8th launched an extensive and sweeping compulsory investigation. They carried out a sudden search and seizure at the Jeju Provincial Police Agency and Jeju West Police Station, targeting the entire missing persons case management system process and the command and reporting lines.

Jeju Western Police Station Building. Photo by Changwon Park.

According to judicial and police officials on the 8th, the Jeju District Prosecutors’ Office dispatched a large team of prosecutors and investigators at around 9:00 a.m. that day, conducting simultaneous search and seizure operations at the Criminal Affairs Division of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, the office of the Jeju West Police Station chief, the criminal investigations chief's office, and other locations.

Just a week after Sergeant Boo Mo (age 34) of the Jeju West Police Station was sent to prosecution in custody on charges including dereliction of duty, falsification of official electronic records and their use, and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means, the prosecution has now begun a full-scale compulsory investigation of the police command structure within its jurisdiction.

While prosecutors officially explained that "the purpose of this search and seizure is to directly inspect and verify the missing persons case management process," legal professionals see this as an intensive supplementary investigation seeking to identify structural flaws in the policing administrative system, starting from the initial case filing and data entry to case closure and higher-up reporting, as well as potential deficiencies in the command and oversight.

Sergeant Boo, who was detained, is accused of closing missing persons cases by submitting false reports without ever contacting the missing persons or verifying their safety while serving on the West Police Station's missing persons investigation team from March last year to July this year.

In particular, Boo is alleged to have falsely reported ‘contact was made’ in the case of a missing woman in her 30s filed on May 15 and a missing man in his 60s reported on July 2, despite never having reached them, then arbitrarily closing and deleting both cases from the 112-report system and the Missing Persons Profiling System (CPS). The woman, Ms. Jang, was later found dead in Jeju City, causing public outrage nationwide.

The repercussions have spread throughout the police organization. In the first round of a full inspection of 298 missing persons cases handled by Sergeant Boo, police additionally found 10 suspected cases where cases were closed or deleted without verifying safety, and 15 instances where a 'deceased' code was falsely entered into the system regardless of whether the missing person's safety was confirmed, leading to their arbitrary removal from management lists—a total of 25 additional cases of improper handling identified.

Given the seriousness of the incident, the National Police Agency removed and placed on standby four senior police officials who were in the command line during the time these cases were handled—this includes two former and current Jeju West Police Station chiefs, the chief of criminal investigations, and the head of the missing persons team—and is conducting an internal investigation to hold those in charge accountable for lapses in command and supervision.

The Jeju District Prosecutors’ Office has assigned the head of the Criminal Affairs Division 1 as lead prosecutor and formed a dedicated investigation team, accelerating its own supplementary investigation based on police investigative records.

A prosecution official stated, "We recognize this case as a grave matter directly linked to the lives and safety of the public," adding, "Through analysis of the seized materials, we intend to thoroughly identify defects in the digital case management process for missing persons, the motives behind the crimes, and whether the police command knowingly overlooked these actions or failed to act."

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