South Korea Orders Police Reform After Jeju Missing-Person Scandal

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for greater police accountability and a government-led overhaul of the force after a scandal on Jeju Island exposed how a single officer allegedly closed hundreds of missing-person cases without confirming the individuals were safe, leading to the discovery of four dead bodies. The controversy has intensified debate over whether the national police are prepared to assume expanded investigative powers set to take effect in October. The scandal centers on an officer identified only by his surname Bu, who worked at Jeju Seobu Police Station for about 17 months before being suspended on August 11 over a separate allegation.