Late Son Jeong-min's Father: "An Expert on a Different Level... Regretful We Never Met"

On the morning of the 25th, while the police investigation into the case of university student Son Jeong-min, who went missing at Hangang Park and was later found dead, is ongoing, citizens are seen looking at a memorial space at Banpo Hangang Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where Son went missing. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Son Hyun (50), the father of Son Jeongmin (22), who was found dead after going missing in the Han River, gave a high evaluation of an expert who appeared on the news, saying he was "on a different level."

On the 12th, Son Hyun posted an article titled "49th Day Memorial" on his blog. He said, "Thank you to everyone who took care of (my son's) 49th day memorial." He added, "At today's mass, the priest held a separate mass because it was the 49th day. On Friday, someone posted on the company's anonymous bulletin board, and since no one else posted, that post remained on the main screen," quoting the full anonymous post.

Son also attached a video from the OBS program "News Today" aired on the 9th, saying, "Although it has a similar name to SBS, I watched the news from a much better broadcasting company," and added, "The level was different from those who do not understand the situation. I don't know why I never met such a person." The person he referred to is presumed to be Professor Oh Yoonseong of Soonchunhyang University’s Department of Police Administration, who appeared on the news.

In the broadcast, Professor Oh stated regarding the phone of friend A, who was with Son Jeongmin, "I was more curious about why the phone was dropped there than about the contents of the phone." He continued, "The janitor who picked up the phone did not specify the time at first but later said he found it at 9:30 a.m. on May 12, but personally, I find this statement less credible."

He further analyzed, "Since the phone was placed at a spot where people had been drinking, it is unlikely that those people did not see the phone." He also explained, "Considering that A’s phone repeatedly turned off and on in the early morning of April 25, if someone witnessed the phone being dropped, it might help determine the direction. Therefore, not only the CCTV footage from May 11 but also earlier footage should be reviewed."

Professor Oh also commented, "There is no need to consider very absurd suspicions raised by the public," but added, "If the police explain each point and announce the investigation results in a way that resolves the public’s doubts, the controversy can be ended."