Police Conduct Additional Investigation of One More Witness Related to Son Jeongmin... 5 Groups, Total 7 People

Chrysanthemums are placed on a bench at Hangang Park to commemorate Son Jeong-min, who was found dead after going missing.
Photo by Lee Jung-yoon leejuyoo@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police investigating the case of university student Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, have interviewed one additional eyewitness at the scene.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated on the 7th, "We summoned one more eyewitness related to the university student's death case yesterday and took their statement," adding, "So far, we have investigated a total of 7 people across 5 groups."

The police explained that they interviewed 6 eyewitnesses the previous day and noted, "There are consistent parts in the testimonies of different people regarding the situation at the scene that day."

Currently, the police are focusing on reconstructing the situation by analyzing footage from 54 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras near the Hangang Park where Jeong-min went missing, as well as black box data from 133 vehicles that entered the park. They are also investigating raised suspicions, including the circumstances under which Jeong-min’s friend A, who drank with him, discarded the shoes he was wearing at the time.

Jeong-min drank with A near the water taxi dock at Banpo Hangang Park from around 11 p.m. on the 24th of last month until about 2 a.m. the next day, fell asleep, and was found dead in the Hangang River five days after going missing, on the 30th of last month. The police have requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service to determine the cause of death. The exact cause is expected to be revealed around mid-month when the detailed examination results are released.