"Blackout? Jumping Over the Fence" New CCTV Released by Son's Father
Citizens Demand "Friend A Be Changed to Suspect"
A's Side Confirms "Also Verified Vomiting Scene Upon Returning Home"
Han River Park CCTV footage released by Jeongmin's father, Son Hyun. Friend A is seen climbing over the fence and heading into the park. / Photo by JTBC
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Regarding the case of university student the late Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, the friend A, who drank with Jeong-min on the day of his disappearance, has come forward with a strong rebuttal.
Earlier, Son’s father had claimed on his blog suspicions of a botched investigation by authorities surrounding the accident and expressed doubts about friend A’s whereabouts. However, as friend A’s side responded to various rumors through legal representatives, the so-called 'Hangang University Student Disappearance Case' has entered a battle over the truth.
Jeong-min’s father, Son Hyun, revealed new closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage the day before (the 23rd). Son stated on JTBC that friend A was not intoxicated and released new CCTV footage. The newly disclosed CCTV shows friend A and A’s family arriving at Hangang Park around 5:12 a.m. on April 25, the day of the incident.
Showing the CCTV footage, Son expressed suspicion, saying, "He climbs over the fence’s second tier wearing slippers and even puts his hand in." He added, "He doesn’t seem drunk at all; it’s hard to believe friend A’s claim that he was too intoxicated to remember anything, let alone a blackout."
He continued, "He didn’t contact us and went straight to the exact spot to look for (Son Jeong-min). Only a friend could have told us that location," implying doubt about the credibility of friend A’s statement that he was too drunk to remember on the day of the accident.
Friend A reportedly said he was too intoxicated to remember the early hours of April 25. Son mentioned friend A and A’s father, saying, "They kept going back and forth only there (by the river slope). After about 20 minutes, the friend started moving a bit, and the father stayed behind." This suggests that if they were not at that spot when looking for Jeong-min, they would have had to search elsewhere.
Son also claimed, "Our son drank four bottles of soju, and the friend drank Cheongha and Makgeolli... If they drank the same amount, they couldn’t have gotten equally drunk," suggesting that friend A was less intoxicated because he drank Cheongha.
The friend A of the late Jeongmin Son stated to JTBC that "(A's) blackout is supported by objective facts." / Photo by JTBC
On the other hand, lawyer Yang Jeong-geun, legal representative of friend A, stated in an interview with YTN Radio’s 'Starting Morning' on the 25th that regarding the CCTV footage of climbing over the fence released by Jeong-min’s father, "There are rumors that he wasn’t drunk based on that one scene, but other CCTV footage shows many indications that he was intoxicated." He added, "We also confirmed a scene of vomiting after returning home past 6:10 a.m. on April 25, the day of the disappearance."
He further rebutted, "A blackout state refers to amnesia, but it does not mean that one cannot perform complex actions requiring motor skills."
Lawyer Yang also denied criticism that friend A hired a lawyer before cooperating with the investigation in the early stages of the case.
Yang said, "The company CEO and A’s father’s younger brother have been friends since childhood, and they are quite close with A’s father as well." He added, "The first witness investigation was on April 26, and the hypnosis investigation on the 27th; at that time, there was no lawyer present." He explained, "Before coming to us, there were already speculative posts on the internet portraying A as the culprit. It wasn’t that he came with the intention to hire a lawyer from the start; since these were people he was familiar with, it was more like consulting about these matters."
On the morning of the 25th, members of the People Seeking the Truth about the Banpo Hangang Incident (Banjinsa) held a press conference in front of the Seocho Police Station in Seoul, demanding a thorough investigation into the late Son Jung-min case. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Lawyer Yang also refuted claims that friend A was uncooperative with the investigation by using blackout as an excuse. He said, "On the 26th, A appeared immediately for the first investigation without a lawyer and gave a witness statement that has not changed since. You can’t say he knows what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t have to fabricate things to be considered cooperative, and we cannot see him as uncooperative."
Yang added, "(A) is having a very hard time," saying, "Recently, it has been very difficult to confirm or ask about the case. Every time we meet, he lowers his head and can only answer in short phrases. I understand he is barely eating."
Meanwhile, a rally demanding a thorough investigation into Jeong-min’s death was held on the 25th in front of Seocho Police Station, which is investigating the case. That day marked one month since Son’s disappearance.
The group 'People Seeking the Truth at Banpo Hangang Park' (Ban Jin Sa) held a press conference in front of Seocho Police Station, stating, "The police investigation over the past month, especially the initial investigation, has been very inadequate, and precious time to uncover the substantive truth has been wasted."
They urged, "The companion should be converted to a suspect even now and subjected to a fair and thorough investigation," criticizing, "The suspect’s human rights, presumption of innocence, and due process principles do not grant the investigative authorities a license to neglect uncovering the substantive truth."
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