Jeju missing woman case reopened over police record doubts
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police in Jeju have resumed a large-scale search for 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran after finding serious flaws in how her disappearance was first handled in May. The case was initially closed within about three hours after an officer reportedly told relatives he had reached her and confirmed she was safe, but investigators later found no call record supporting that account
Key Points
- Jang Mi-ran, who moved to Jeju about 10 years ago and lived with her boyfriend, left their home in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, in the early hours of May 13 and did not return
- Her boyfriend reported her missing to Jeju West Police Station on May 15 after her phone became unreachable, and relatives were later told she was safe but did not want her location disclosed
- South Korean police may withhold an adult missing person’s location if that person asks for privacy, so the family accepted the explanation and believed she had left voluntarily
- After more than three months without contact, the boyfriend made further inquiries in mid-July, and a renewed family report exposed that there was no verified call record between the officer and Jang
- Jeju Provincial Police Agency has formed a dedicated team, sent about 30 officers and mobile units to search Hallim Port and nearby coastlines, and is reviewing CCTV, phone, card and medical records
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case shows how a single disputed police record in a missing-person investigation can cost crucial search time and mislead families for months. The inquiry now carries two tracks: finding Jang Mi-ran and determining whether the officer committed false reporting, dereliction of duty or negligence