'Missing Alert Text' Effectively Leads to Discovery... Crucial Tip Finds 70s Dementia Patient

Disappeared During Emergency Room Treatment in Suwon, Gyeonggi
Text Sent Amid Tracking Difficulties
Report Received After 30 Minutes... Missing Person Found

Overview diagram of dementia patient A found through a 'missing alert text message'. [Source=National Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Since the implementation of the 'Missing Alert Text Message System' on the 9th of this month, which sends information about missing children and others in the same format as disaster alerts, the first case of discovery through this system has been reported.

According to the National Police Agency on the 12th, a report was received on the 10th that a dementia patient, A (79), went missing from a hospital located in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province. A had visited the emergency room with their spouse but disappeared while the spouse was away for a COVID-19 related test.

The police, who began searching, confirmed that A had boarded a bus at a nearby stop and got off at Suwon West Public Garage about 8 km away. However, due to limited CCTV coverage and difficulty in tracking the location, they faced challenges.

Accordingly, on the next day, the 11th, at 7:37 PM, the police sent out a 'Missing Alert Text Message' containing information about the missing person across Suwon-si and Hwaseong-si in Gyeonggi Province. The message included details such as A's age, name, and physical characteristics.

Thirty minutes after the message was sent, a significant tip was received. At around 8:06 PM the same day, B (60) reported, "After seeing the missing alert text, I am reporting that I saw an elderly man pulling weeds near Suwon Agricultural Life Science High School." Police dispatched to the scene found A and safely returned them to their family. It was said that A usually enjoyed gardening in a vacant lot near their home.

A's family expressed, "Even though it was a rainy day, we are grateful that the police officers searched through the night, and thanks to the missing alert text, we were able to reunite." The informant B also said, "I feel rewarded to have helped find the missing person," adding, "I am glad that such a good system has been implemented and will continue to take an interest as a citizen."

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, emphasized, "As this missing alert text system is showing effectiveness with the public's interest, we will further activate the system to help quickly find missing children and others," adding, "We ask for the public's active interest and reporting to create a society safe from disappearances."