[Summary] The Key to Son Jeongmin's Accident Lies in the 'Last 40 Minutes'... Father Says "Crucial Tip Needed"

Son Jeongmin's Father: "Thanks to Everyone's Interest, We Have Come This Far"
"We Must Reveal How My Son Entered the Water"
National Forensic Service Autopsy Concludes Cause of Death as Drowning
Jeongmin's Whereabouts Unclear During the 'Last 40 Minutes' on the Day of Disappearance

On the morning of the 13th, police officers involved in the search of the phone belonging to the late Son Jeong-min's friend are moving behind the memorial flower bouquets and notes placed in front of the taxi stand at Banpo Hangang Park, Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Son Hyun, the father of university student Son Jeongmin (22), who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, has appealed, saying he is waiting for decisive tips that can clarify what happened during the 'last 40 minutes.' According to the autopsy results from the National Forensic Service, Jeongmin's cause of death was determined to be drowning, but his movements during the 40 minutes from when he fell asleep to when he went missing remain unknown.

Son, Jeongmin's father, emphasized in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Pyo Changwon's News High Kick' on the 13th, "It is now time to receive decisive tips that can specify the time or clarify something."

Regarding the National Forensic Service's autopsy result that Jeongmin's cause of death was drowning, Son said, "I expected that," and added, "Before the autopsy, the detectives in charge said that the cause of death was drowning, but the National Forensic Service said they could not determine how he entered the water. From the beginning, I asked the police to investigate 'how he entered the water, assuming drowning'."

Son also expressed gratitude to the citizens who showed great interest in this case. He said, "Thanks to everyone's interest, we have come this far," and added, "I think we have brought a case that could have ended as a typical missing person or drowning incident this far, so I am thankful."

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

He continued, "I am only curious about how my son entered the water," and emphasized, "I believe that must be revealed. That expectation is my only strength and weapon."

On the same day, the police announced that they received the autopsy report from the National Forensic Service, which determined Jeongmin's cause of death as drowning. Earlier, when Jeongmin's body was found on the 30th of last month, a head wound was discovered. However, the National Forensic Service's autopsy concluded that this wound was unlikely to be the cause of death, and they also examined whether there were any problematic drug reactions but found nothing unusual.

Additionally, the police stated that they secured testimonies from witnesses who saw Jeongmin and his friend A on the early morning of the day Jeongmin went missing. According to these witnesses, the two were sitting or lying down from 2:00 AM to 3:38 AM and at times went to the edge of the lawn to vomit.

However, around 4:20 AM, only A was seen lying down and sleeping without Jeongmin. In other words, Jeongmin's whereabouts are unknown for about 40 minutes between 3:38 AM and 4:20 AM that day.

Meanwhile, the police plan to continue investigating the case regardless of the National Forensic Service's autopsy results.