Unfounded Speculations Toward Friends Continue
Personal Information Exposure Persists... Real Names Also Called
Emotional Identification Like Family Leads to Such Reactions
Definitive Expressions Should Be Avoided
On the 16th, when rain fell nationwide, participants at the "Peace Rally for the Late Son Jeong-min" held near the water taxi dock at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul urged for a thorough investigation of the incident while holding umbrellas. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Reckless speculation is pouring out regarding friend A, who was with university student Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park. Unverified rumors, such as A assaulting Son, are continuously spreading. Experts advise refraining from such speculation or misunderstandings until the investigation results are released, as they can lead to secondary damage.
On the 18th, a post titled "What A's parents were looking for" was uploaded on an online community. The netizen who posted claimed that A's parents did not head to Hangang Park to find Son but to look for the stone A used to hit Son. They explained that a two-joint finger-sized wound on the back of Son's head supports their claim, stating, "Although not the direct cause of death, the bleeding must have been severe," and "fainting is possible." They also suggested there might be bloodstains near the disappearance site. However, they acknowledged these claims were mere speculation.
However, the police investigated whether there were bloodstains in the bushes and drainage near the presumed disappearance site but confirmed no bloodstains belonging to Son were found. Nor were any bloodstains from A discovered. It is known that on the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's forensic team examined the area near Hangang Park. Therefore, the netizen's suspicion that Son was hit with a stone and that bloodstains would be nearby lacks credibility.
Additionally, A's real name and presumed family personal information have been continuously posted online. On the 16th, some citizens attending a rally at Hangang Park demanding a thorough investigation into Son's death shouted A's real name and called for his arrest.
Unverified rumors also spread that A's parents' acquaintance is a high-ranking official in the legal field trying to cover up the case. The day before, A's side stated in a press release, "There are no so-called influential persons among family or relatives in investigative agencies, the legal field, media, or politics," but now suspicions have been raised that A's parents' acquaintance is a high-ranking official. Previously, it was alleged that the former Seocho Police Station chief was A's maternal uncle and that A's father held a senior position at Gangnam Severance Hospital, but all were found to be false.
As fake news and personal information exposure continued, A's side earnestly requested, "We sincerely ask that excessive speculation and defamation be refrained from at least until the investigation results are out," adding, "If this situation continues, even if A's innocence is proven through police investigation later, it is feared that A and his family will find it difficult to return to normal life."
Experts advise refraining from unverified rumors to prevent secondary damage. Professor Lim Myeong-ho of Dankook University's Department of Psychology said, "Some citizens seem to empathize with this case as if it were their own family, which causes such reactions," adding, "Since the police investigation results have not yet been released, refraining from speculation or definitive expressions can prevent secondary victims."
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