Tears of Bereaved Family and Mourners at Funeral of Missing University Student in Hangang
"If You Hadn't Come, I Wouldn't Have Known the Meaning of Happiness"
"I Will Keep Your Lovely Smile in My Heart"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The funeral procession for university student Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing near Seoul’s Hangang Park and was later found deceased, was held on the morning of the 5th.
The procession took place around 9 a.m. after a farewell ceremony at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Even before the procession began, the area in front of the funeral hall was filled with mourners, including university classmates, paying their respects to Son. The funeral followed Catholic rites. Around 10 a.m., the procession moved to Jamwon-dong Cathedral for a funeral mass.
As the farewell ceremony began, family members and friends read eulogies in front of the deceased’s portrait, breaking down in tears. The chief mourner, Son’s father Son Hyun (50), said, “You made us understand what happiness truly is,” adding, “If you hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have known the meaning of happiness,” as he sobbed. He continued, “Though it’s very painful now, I’m letting you go thinking that we will meet again someday,” and said, “Mom, don’t worry. You trust Dad, right? We’re taking good care of you, Jeong-min.”
One of Son’s friends who read a eulogy said, “Your smile, which brightly illuminated our hearts, has gone away for a while to light up another place,” and tearfully added, “I will always keep your lovely smile in my heart and strive to be a good person. Thank you and I love you, my friend.”
After the farewell ceremony, the family carried the portrait and memorial tablet to the resting room, and the procession concluded around 9:20 a.m. Outside the funeral hall, mourners waited for the hearse, which departed the venue at approximately 9:27 a.m.
After cremation at Seoul Memorial Park, the ashes are reported to be interred at Honors Stone in Yongin. Prior to the procession, visitors including university seniors and juniors, as well as middle and high school classmates, continuously paid their respects at the deceased’s funeral site.
Son had been drinking with a friend at Banpo Hangang Park from around 11 p.m. on the 24th of last month until about 2 a.m. the following day, after which he fell asleep. The friend, identified as A, woke up around 4:30 a.m. and returned home alone, but Son went missing. Son’s body was found on the afternoon of the 30th of last month. It was reported that his clothing was the same as when he disappeared.
After Son’s body was discovered, questions arose surrounding the circumstances of his death. In an interview with a media outlet, Son Hyun said that regarding A’s statement that “he threw away the shoes,” he had visited A on the 26th of last month to obtain as much information as possible and to encourage cooperation with a hypnotic investigation. At that time, A said, “My friend (Jeong-min) suddenly got up while sleeping, ran, tried to hold his teeth, and fell down. That’s when his shoes and clothes got dirty.”
He added, “Later, I wondered why he emphasized the story about his shoes and clothes getting dirty, since it wasn’t a place where they should have gotten dirty,” and said, “I wanted to see what was on them, but since the clothes were probably washed, I asked to see the shoes, and he immediately said he had thrown them away,” raising suspicions. He also said, “I want to know how Jeong-min entered the Hangang River between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.”
Although controversy arose because A did not even come to pay respects at the funeral hall, it was confirmed that he visited the funeral hall around 1:30 a.m. the day before but was unable to pay respects. Son Hyun said, “A came to the funeral site with his uncle around 1:30 a.m. today,” adding, “He wasn’t mentally prepared, so after some hesitation, I told him ‘It’s too late, so please leave.’” He continued, “It’s not proper to come anytime and demand to be received for condolences. He did nothing when the child’s body was found, and only came after being criticized in a broadcast interview for not coming to pay respects.”
The day before, a red iPhone was found near the location where Son’s body was discovered, but police confirmed that the phone did not belong to A.
A’s phone was identified as a key clue that could clarify suspicions on the day of the disappearance, but its whereabouts remain unknown. Son’s phone was a Galaxy model, while A’s was an iPhone. When A met Son’s family on the day of the disappearance, he was holding Son’s phone. However, A’s phone was not found on Son’s body recovered from the Hangang River.
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 A for questioning.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
