Discovery of Four Bodies in South Korean Resort Island Sparks Frenzy
Is the state taking sufficient action or do unresolved questions still need answering?
Above: Anglers fish the coastline of Seogwipo, the second-largest city on Jeju Island, on Feb. 23, 2023. Image credit: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
In the wake of these tragic discoveries, police need to be held fully accountable, especially as they will soon take on additional responsibilities. That's why a thorough investigation has been ordered and why a flaw in how missing persons cases were handled has already been fixed.
Establishment-critical narrative
Not only did the officer in question allegedly mishandle two such missing persons cases before they showed up dead, news reports indicate he had been reported for a suspected domestic violence and for entering a women's restroom at his police station. The same police force that allowed Bu to become an officer in the first place cannot be entrusted to investigate their failings.
