Missing woman's body found on Jeju Island; police officer released after unlawful arrest

The presumed body of a missing woman was found Monday on the southern resort island of Jeju, police said, amid an intensive search for the missing person launched belatedly due to a police officer there prematurely, if not illegally, closing the case, allegedly without confirming her safety.

The body was found at 10:46 a.m. in a forest located only about a kilometer away from the accommodation the 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran had stayed in before she went missing, according to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency.

The police were reportedly trying to confirm the identity of the body, while a police official said they planned to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The official, however, noted there were no immediate signs of foul play, based on the current state of the remains.

Jang was last seen leaving the accommodation May 12. A missing person report was filed three days later.

The case only came under the spotlight after the police found out that an officer had prematurely closed the initial case filed in May, possibly without confirming the missing person's safety despite telling her friends and family that he had spoken with her on the phone.

An intensive search for Jang was launched late last week, leading to the discovery of the bodies of at least two other missing persons so far.

The police officer who had prematurely closed Jang's case was placed under arrest Saturday, with a warrant for his formal arrest filed earlier Monday on suspicion of dereliction of duty, falsifying official electronic records and obstruction of official duty through deceptive means.

Ahead of a decision on the arrest warrant, the Jeju District Court ordered his release Monday after reviewing the appropriateness of his emergency arrest at the officer's request.

The court ruled that the emergency arrest was unlawful as the legal requirement for an emergency was not met.