"I Will Go to the End" The Truth Battle Over the Death of Late Son Jeong-min... Mud-slinging Fight [Han Seung-gon's Case Notebook]

Legal Action Against False Claims by Son Jeong-min's Friend... Tens of Thousands to Sue
Some YouTubers Sued and Reported, "We Will Go to the End"
Janitor Who Found Son Jeong-min Friend's Phone Reported to Prosecutors for Embezzlement
Banjinsa: "A Desire to Find Even a Small Thread of Truth"

On the afternoon of the 29th of last month, citizens attending a rally for truth verification hosted by the People Seeking the Truth of the Banpo Hangang Incident (Banjinsa) at the entrance of the Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are observing a moment of silence to pray for the deceased. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han] The tragic drowning accident involving the late Son Jeong-min is expected to lead to legal disputes. On the day Jeong-min went missing, his friend A, who drank with him, has announced plans for large-scale lawsuits against false information being spread about him. Meanwhile, groups demanding the truth about the circumstances of the accident have filed complaints with the prosecution against the sanitation worker who found the police and A’s mobile phones. Additionally, some YouTubers have declared that they will not back down from their claims regardless of lawsuits or complaints.

According to A’s side on the 6th, lawyer Jeong Byeong-won (One & Partners Law Firm) plans to file complaints with the police starting from the 7th against YouTubers and bloggers who have spread false information about A and his family. According to lawyer Jeong, the targets of the complaints will include not only YouTubers and bloggers but also those who posted articles or comments on internet communities.

Lawyer Jeong stated, "Despite repeated requests to stop illegal acts concerning friend A, his family, and acquaintances, the posts have instead increased," adding, "Some content has exceeded the limit of tolerance, and the damage and suffering are becoming more severe." He further added, "If there is no one hoping for leniency, it seems that at least tens of thousands of people will have to be sued."

Some YouTubers are opposing A’s side’s stance. The operator of the channel `Kim Woong Reporter LIVE` posted a message saying, "I will go to the end." Also, the YouTube channel "Jikkkeum TV," which was the first to be sued by lawyer Jeong, has changed its channel name to `Gaesori TV` and continues its activities.

On the 25th of last month, a citizen is looking at the memorial space for the late Son Jeong-min at Banpo Hangang Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As netizens who posted claims that friend A caused the accident leading to the drowning or concealed various evidence and circumstances, as well as YouTubers who made such claims, are expected to face lawsuits and complaints, groups demanding the truth about the accident have also taken legal action.

On the 4th, lawyer Park Joo-hyun of the group `People Seeking the Truth of the Mysterious Death of the Medical Student at Hangang (Hanjinsa)` announced, "We are filing a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against the head of the Criminal Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and police officers for false official document creation and use, for recording and releasing false information that deceived the public, differing from witness statements." On the same day, they also filed a complaint with the prosecution against the sanitation worker who acquired and belatedly submitted A’s mobile phone for embezzlement of lost property.

Moreover, the group `People Seeking the Truth of the Banpo Hangang Incident (Banjinsa)` continues to hold memorial rallies for Son Jeong-min, and the dispute over the truth of this matter is expected to continue for some time. Banjinsa was founded by the operator of the YouTube channel `Jongi-ui TV`, which is also among the YouTubers that A’s side has announced plans to sue for defamation and other charges. This group currently has about 34,000 members.

On the 29th of last month, they held a rally near the Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, urging witnesses from the day of the incident to actively come forward with information.

On that day, Banjinsa stated, "Currently, the police are analyzing 126 nearby CCTV cameras where the disappearance occurred and black boxes from vehicles that entered Hangang Park at the time, but it seems they are having great difficulty reconstructing the incident of that day."

They added, "Our Banjinsa has gathered with the hope of finding even a single clue to a very small truth that the police might have missed," and urged, "If anyone witnessed a male student (friend A of Son) wearing a baseball jumper and shorts at Banpo Hangang Park between midnight and 6 a.m. on April 25, or has black box footage or CCTV videos of vehicles parked near the rabbit hole, please report to us."