Seoul Police Chief: "Fake News on Son Jeong-min Case Does Not Help Truth Verification... Investigating All Possibilities"

"Citizen Harm and Investigation Confusion Due to Fake News"
Police Take Strict Action Against False Information Dissemination

Investigation Open to All Possibilities with Three Approaches

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police investigating the case of university student Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing at Hangang Park and was found dead, have stated that the baseless rumors circulating online do not help in uncovering the truth. The police are keeping all possibilities open in their investigation of this case.

At a press conference held on the 7th, Jang Ha-yeon, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said, "Due to the high level of public interest, many stories are emerging, including some that should not be spread, which are causing harm to citizens and confusion in the investigation." He added, "We have announced strict crackdowns on fake news, but it is unfortunate that such incidents have occurred and they do not aid in uncovering the truth."

Recently, fake news has been circulating online claiming that a senior police official is connected to Son’s cause of death. The police have announced that they will respond strictly to the dissemination of false information, including fake news involving Commissioner Jang’s family, as well as Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong and Daejeon Police Commissioner Song Jeong-ae.

Currently, the police are conducting the investigation with all possibilities open, focusing on three main directions. A police official stated, "We are verifying three tracks: reconstructing the whereabouts on the day of disappearance, the circumstances of acquiring friend A’s mobile phone, and the search for Son’s shoes." However, they have not committed to a timeline for announcing the investigation results. Commissioner Jang explained, "We are keeping all possibilities open to discover the substantive truth. We are still reviewing various materials, including witness statements, and if there is any doubt about their credibility, we are conducting detailed verification."