"Why is a broken phone there?"... Found a cellphone near the location where the 'missing university student' was discovered

Father: "It has not yet been confirmed if it is a friend's phone"
"Could there be another broken phone at that location?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A damaged mobile phone was found near the location where university student Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was later found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, was discovered.

Son Hyun, Jeong-min’s father, met with reporters on the 4th at a funeral hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and said, “I received a call saying ‘found it’ while on the way to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office,” adding, “The location is near where Jeong-min disappeared.” It was reported that private rescuer Cha Jong-wook (54), who found Jeong-min’s body, also found the mobile phone underwater this time. However, Son said it has not been confirmed whether this phone belongs to Mr. A. The phone was discovered during a focused search of shallow waters using metal detectors, with individual volunteers dividing the area.

Son said, “Although the phone was shattered, it is said that valid information can be obtained,” and “I asked through a lawyer to have it taken to the Seocho Police Station.” Regarding the possibility that the phone belongs to Mr. A, a friend who drank with Jeong-min on the day he went missing, Son said, “We don’t know yet if it is the friend’s phone,” but added, “Is there any other shattered phone in that location besides that one?”

The phone first found belonging to Jeong-min was a Galaxy model, while Mr. A’s phone is known to be an iPhone. Earlier, when Son met with Mr. A’s family on the 25th of last month, the day Jeong-min went missing, Mr. A was holding Jeong-min’s phone. Mr. A’s phone was not found on Jeong-min’s body discovered in the Hangang.

Mr. A’s phone has been identified as a key clue that could resolve suspicions about the day of the disappearance, but its whereabouts have been unknown until now. There has been speculation that the two phones might have been swapped while both were intoxicated. The Seocho Police Station in Seoul mobilized a riot squad last week to search the bushes of Banpo Hangang Park in an attempt to find Mr. A’s phone but failed to locate it.

The police have begun digital forensic analysis on Jeong-min’s phone and are investigating the exact circumstances of the case. After securing related data through forensics, the police plan to summon Mr. A for questioning.

Meanwhile, Jeong-min drank with a friend at Banpo Hangang Park from around 11 p.m. on the 24th of last month until about 2 a.m. the next day and then fell asleep. The friend, Mr. A, woke up around 4:30 a.m. and returned home alone, but Jeong-min went missing. Jeong-min’s body was found in the afternoon on the 30th of last month. It was reported that his clothing was exactly the same as when he went missing.