"'Hangang Missing University Student' Friend Profiler Interview Investigation... 'Family Mobile Phone Forensics, etc.'"

On the 11th, near the water taxi dock at Banpo Hangang Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, the police conducted a search of the late Son Jeong-min's friend's mobile phone. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The police announced that they are investigating Friend A of the late Son Jeong-min, who was found dead after going missing at Seoul Hangang Park, including conducting a profiler interview.

On the 13th, a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated, "Forensic analysis has been completed on A's laptop, A's mother's mobile phone, and the black box of the vehicle that A and his parents used to visit the site around 5:10 a.m. on the day of the disappearance," adding, "A's profiler interview was also conducted on the previous day (the 12th) with a lawyer present." The police are also conducting additional digital forensics on A's father's mobile phone, which has been submitted.

The deceased Son and A drank together at Hangang Banpo Park from around 11 p.m. on the 24th of last month. On that day, Son and A purchased nine bottles of alcohol at a nearby convenience store. According to the police investigation, after 3:38 a.m. the next day, only A was found sleeping at the scene. A witness stated that around 4:20 a.m. the next day, they found A asleep and intoxicated on the Hangang riverside and woke him up. The witness testified that they did not find Son during this process.

The police are investigating Son's whereabouts between 3:38 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. A police official said, "We are conducting an underwater search of Hangang Park jointly with the Navy and Hangang Police Unit to find A's mobile phone," adding, "We are also checking 154 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Hangang Park and vehicle black boxes."

The police also stated that they are providing personal protection for A and his family. A police official said, "We are providing personal protection at the request of the parties involved, but we cannot disclose the methods," and added, "We have allowed the person concerned to decide in accordance with the purpose of personal protection."