4 Jeju police officers placed on administrative leave over premature closure of missing person case

Police on South Korea's Jeju Island have placed four officers on administrative leave amid allegations of misconduct over the premature closure of a missing person case. The National Police Agency announced the suspension of the head of the Jeju Seobu Police Station, the station's former chief, and two senior investigators. The decision follows the discovery of presumed body of Jang Mi-ran, a 37-year-old woman, in an intensive search that began after a police officer prematurely closed the case in May.

Jang's presumed body was found on Monday during the search, which was launched belatedly after the police officer allegedly closed the case without confirming her safety and falsely reported that he had come into contact with her. The incident has raised further questions about the handling of missing person cases on the island, with other bodies of missing persons discovered since the search for Jang began last week.