Police conducting an intensive search for missing persons [Yonhap News file photo]

Recently, bodies suspected to be those of missing persons have been discovered in succession on Jeju Island. This marks the fourth such discovery in three days since the 22nd.

According to Jeju police and the Jeju Coast Guard on the 24th, a fisherman discovered the body of a man, estimated to be in his 70s, in the waters near Sinheung-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, at approximately 3:04 a.m. on the 23rd and reported it to the 119 emergency services.

Upon receiving the report, the Jeju Coast Guard identified the man as someone reported missing to the Jeju Dongbu Police Station on the 22nd and is currently investigating the exact cause and circumstances of his death.

At approximately 10:46 a.m. that same day, a body, presumed to be that of Jang Mi-ran (37), who had been missing since May, was discovered near the long-term lodging where she had been staying, 104 days after she first went missing.

Jang's case was initially closed under false pretenses by the officer in charge at the time of the first report, but it was re-reported last month, prompting police to resume their search.

At approximately 9:35 a.m. on the same day, another person who had been reported missing to the police was found dead near a valley in Aewol-eup, Jeju-si.

Prior to this, on the 22nd, a man in his 60s was found dead in Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si.

It was revealed that this man in his 60s had also been reported missing on the 2nd of last month, and that the same officer in charge of Jang's case had similarly closed this case under false pretenses.

In Jeju, in addition to cases involving individuals cutting off contact due to personal distress, disappearances of people with intellectual or autistic disabilities and dementia patients occur consistently.

The number of disappearances involving people with disabilities and dementia patients stood at 291 in 2023, 264 in 2024, and 269 in 2025, with 135 cases recorded as of the end of last month this year.

Experts point out that the social safety net, including the welfare system for high-risk groups such as people with disabilities, the elderly with dementia, and other vulnerable populations, needs to be thoroughly reassessed.

Furthermore, it is suggested that the police's 'Rules for Processing Runaway Cases,' which treats reports of missing adults as simple runaway incidents, should be improved to strengthen systematic investigations and timely responses.

To bolster search efforts when a missing person is reported, the Jeju provincial government has decided to extend the retention period for public CCTV footage and expand coastal surveillance systems utilizing artificial intelligence (AI).

Additionally, they plan to work closely with the Autonomous Police Committee to review all recent missing person and crisis cases, and to promptly establish a verification system to prevent cases from being handled inadequately based solely on the individual judgment of the officer in charge.