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Returned to Family After 106 Days: "A System Worse Than a Small Corner Store"

Cho Min-ki

Published : Aug 27, 2026 10:07 PM

Video

[Anchor]

The wake for the late Mr. Chang was set up in Jeju yesterday (August 26). Recalling Mr. Chang, who returned to his family 106 days after being reported missing, the bereaved families criticized that the police's action of falsely closing the missing person report can never be forgiven.

Reporter Cho Min-ki met with the bereaved family.

[Reporter]

Condolence wreaths stand in front of the mortuary, and white chrysanthemums are lined up beneath the portrait.

The wake for Mr. Chang, who was found dead 104 days after being reported missing to the police, was prepared at a hospital in downtown Jeju yesterday.

Guarding the mortuary with solemn expressions, the bereaved family recalled, "Mr. Chang had a kind heart, always willing to give to others while rarely asking for help."

[Bereaved Family Member of Mr. Chang: He tended not to express things or show it when he was struggling, and now something like this happened without our family even knowing.]

Stating that they hope Mr. Chang's death is not forgotten, the bereaved family urged a thorough investigation, emphasizing that they cannot forgive Police Inspector Boo of the Jeju Seobu Police Station, who is accused of arbitrarily and falsely closing the family's missing person report.

[Bereaved Family Member of Mr. Chang: Why, why, why did he do it? That is what we are most curious about. Why on earth? We can't help but ask why. It had nothing to do with his personal performance record, so why would he go this far...]

Expressing anger beyond the personal misconduct of Inspector Boo, they also criticized the police system that allows a missing person case to be buried by a single investigator.

[Bereaved Family Member of Mr. Chang: I think I have lost all trust in the missing persons investigation team. Isn't this a system even worse than any small-to-medium enterprise or even a tiny local shop?]

Standing before the body of Mr. Chang, which had been left unattended for over 100 days, the family demanded comprehensive measures to ensure that such an incident never happens again.

[Bereaved Family Member of Mr. Chang: They talk about implementing dual approval systems now, but since things have turned out this way, I hope they thoroughly review everything and fix it properly from the ground up.]

The funeral procession for Mr. Chang will be held tomorrow morning.

(Camera Reporter: Lee Sang-hak, Video Editor: Kim Yoon-sung)