Man in His 40s Reported Missing in Jeju Found Safe After Five-Hour Search

【Financial News Jeju=Jeong Yong-bok】 As police response systems are being overhauled following the controversy over the false closure of a missing-person case in Jeju, a newly reported missing adult was found safe after a joint search lasting more than five hours by police, firefighters and the Coast Guard. The search covered both land and sea, including the possibility that he had fallen into the water. He was found at lodging near the location where his phone signal was last detected.
Police and fire authorities said the man, identified by his surname as A, was found at lodging near Geumneung Beach in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, at around 2:30 a.m. on the 12th. He was found to have no significant health problems and was handed over to his family.
At around 7:30 p.m. the previous day, police received a report from the family saying they could not reach A.
Police began tracing A’s movements, focusing on the area around Geumneung Beach, where his phone signal was last detected. They expanded the search after requesting assistance from firefighters and the Jeju Coast Guard Station.
Along with the land search, authorities prepared for the possibility that he had fallen into the sea. The Coast Guard deployed a patrol vessel to search the waters around Geumneung Beach.
A was found at lodging not far from the location where his phone signal was lost, about five hours after the search itself began. Approximately seven hours elapsed from the time the report was received until he was found.
The report was received as Jeju police were strengthening their initial response and case-closure procedures following the controversy over the false closure of a missing-person case. The case was concluded after police, firefighters and the Coast Guard conducted a joint search and directly confirmed that the missing person was safe.
[email protected] Jeong Yong-bok Reporter