Jeju Missing Woman Found Dead After False Police Closure
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A 37-year-old woman, identified as Jang Mi-ran (장미란), disappeared on Jeju Island on May 12 after leaving her accommodation at about 10:15pm. Her partner reported her missing on May 15, but the officer handling the case falsely claimed police had contacted her and that she was safe, then closed the case that same night. After more than three months of uncertainty, Jeju police said on August 24 that a body believed to be hers had been found about 1km from her residence. The officer accused of making the false report and closing the case has been arrested, and police are checking whether similar conduct occurred in other cases.
Key Points
- Jang Mi-ran, 37, went missing after leaving her lodging on Jeju at around 10:15pm on May 12.
- Her live-in partner filed a missing-person report with Jeju West Police Station at 6:43pm on May 15.
- Police tracking of her mobile phone indicated movement in the direction of Hallim Port before contact was lost.
- The assigned officer told the reporting partner she was safe and did not want her location disclosed, then closed the case at 9:16pm.
- A second report on July 17 was not accepted because the system carried a note saying her contact details should not be shared with the partner.
Why It Matters
The case raises concerns about whether a false police response and premature case closure may have delayed search efforts in a missing-person investigation. For Hong Kong readers, it underscores how heavily families depend on accurate frontline police handling when every hour after a disappearance can matter.