South Korea: Police officer admits to closing missing person cases on Jeju to avoid work - BBC News

The officer falsely claimed he contacted missing persons and prematurely closed their cases on the South Korean holiday island of Jeju.

Image source, News1Image caption, The police officer, known by his surname Bu, was arrested earlier this month

A South Korean police officer has admitted to closing missing persons cases without investigating them in order to avoid additional work, according to authorities.

The officer, surnamed Bu, was arrested earlier this month after he was accused of prematurely closing cases on the popular holiday island Jeju and lying to missing persons' families.

Amid mounting public criticism, police embarked on belated searches for several missing persons on the island, and have since discovered four bodies in recent weeks.

The scandal has prompted President Lee Jae Myung to vow to reform the police, as the government prepares to give the police more powers.