4 bodies found in 3 days on Jeju: Police officer implicated confronted & shouted at outside police station

A South Korean police officer, who has been implicated after four people reported missing ​on Jeju were found dead over three days, was confronted outside the police station by family of those involved.

A video of the confrontation has made the rounds online.

A Jeju police officer was arrested today for deliberately shutting down missing-person cases — not one or two, but roughly 298 of them. He told families their loved ones were safe, then quietly deleted the cases from the missing-persons system.

The case cracked open because of… pic.twitter.com/1MjHz6MqoS

— ViiV (@ViiV_333) August 25, 2026

Confrontation occurred when police officer was apparently temporarily released

The officer had been taken into custody on Saturday, Aug. 22, reported Korea Times.

This was after the body of a man in his 60s, who had been reported missing, was found that day.

The officer, identified as Sergeant Boo, petitioned the court to review the legality of his arrest, according to Korea Joongang Daily.

He was then released on Monday, Aug. 24, after the court granted his release appeal.

Sergeant Boo was allegedly confronted by the family of those involved.

One person shouted: "Hey, say something!"

They could be seen questioning him and laying their hands on him, as officers at the scene intervened.

One person, who had been held back, eventually broke free and even chased after the car that Sergeant Boo boarded.

The alleged rogue police officer was subsequently detained again a day later.

A court detained the officer on Tuesday, Aug. 25 on suspicion of dereliction of duty, falsifying official electronic records and ​obstructing official duties, Yonhap News Agency reported, according to Reuters.

The officer denied the charges and said he contacted the missing people, the report said, citing a ‌police official.

Jeju is one of South Korea's most popular tourist destinations.

It drew 1.2 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, according to the Jeju Tourism Association.

Dead bodies surfaced

The second body, belonging to a man in his 70s, was discovered on Sunday, Aug. 23.

The third and fourth bodies were discovered on Monday, Aug. 24.

The fourth body was that of a woman, 37, who was reported missing 104 days earlier.

Her skeletal remains were apparently found in a hanging position.

Two cases linked to police officer

The four cases of bodies being found are unrelated.

Thus far, the only link is that the same officer allegedly closed two of the cases without confirmation that the missing persons were safe.

The allegations have prompted police to ​review all 298 missing person reports handled by Officer Boo.

About 10 are being examined for possible improper closure, South Korea media reported.

Apologies

The acting national police commissioner Yoo Jae-seong has since apologised, reported Reuters.

On Aug. 26, Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung also apologised to the bereaved families and the public.

Yun and senior police officials stood and bowed in apology, pledging thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.