Son Jeong-min's Father: "I Want to Hear Directly from the Friend"... Friend's Side: "We Never Refused to Meet"

Friend's Side: "If Contacted Directly, We Can Visit Immediately"

Attorney Jung Byung-won, who is legally representing Mr. A, a friend of the late Son Jeong-min who went missing and was found dead in the Han River. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] The lawyer representing friend A, who was with the late university student Son Jeong-min, found dead in the Han River in Seoul, has rebutted claims that A refused to meet, following Son’s father’s statement on his blog expressing a desire to hear directly from A about the incident.

The law firm One & Partners, representing A, stated on the same day, "A has never refused to meet Son’s father and has made several efforts to meet him in person."

Earlier, Son’s father posted on his blog expressing doubts about the police investigation announcement, saying, "From the beginning until now, what my wife and I want to know is only how our son ended up in the water," and added, "Rather than hearing answers from a lawyer who is not even a suspect or from an unknown relative, we want to hear directly from the friend himself, who is an adult."

The suspicions raised by the father include insufficient answers regarding why A, who rarely drank alcohol, suddenly suggested drinking, and why A searched through Jeong-min’s pockets while he was lying down.

A memorial space for the late Son Jeong-min has been set up at Banpo Hangang Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, related to the accident in which Son Jeong-min went missing and was found dead in the Han River.
Photo by Yonhap News

In response, One & Partners said, "A met Son’s father in person on April 26 and shared everything he remembered at that time," adding, "Son’s father even recorded this conversation and, as far as we know, distributed it to several media outlets."

They further explained, "When we went to Son’s funeral hall, A’s uncle clearly informed us that A had come," and added, "He went with the intention of meeting Son’s father directly."

They continued, "Moreover, A visited Son’s memorial park on May 19," and "Shortly after, A’s parents sent a KakaoTalk message expressing their wish to visit Son’s parents, and they tried to visit together with A, but after the message was read, there has been no response so far," they said.

Additionally, they stated, "Even now, if Son’s father contacts A expressing a desire to meet, A can visit immediately," and added, "There is no need to speak indirectly through blogs or the media."