We have measured the local structure of superconducting K 0.8 Fe 1.6 Se 2 chalcogenide (T c = 31.8 K) by temperature dependent polarized extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) at the Fe and Se K-edges. We find that the system is characterized by a large local disorder. The Fe-Se and Fe-Fe distances are found to be shorter than the distances measured by diffraction, while the corresponding mean square relative displacements reveal large Fe-site disorder and relatively large c-axis disorder. The local force constant for the Fe-Se bondlength (k ∼ 5.8 eV Å−2 ) is similar to the one found in the binary FeSe superconductor, however, the Fe-Fe bondlength appears to be flexible (k ∼ 2.1 eV Å−2 ) in comparison to the binary FeSe (k ∼ 3.5 eV Å−2 ), an indication of partly relaxed Fe-Fe networks in K 0.8 Fe 1.6 Se 2 . The results suggest a glassy nature for the title system, with the superconductivity being similar to that in the granular materials.