Son Jeong-min's Father: "Is My Son's Case Only Worth 2 Months of Investigation? Please Form a Dedicated Team"

"Bereaved Families Cannot Accept the End of Investigation"
Police Also Question the 'Unnatural Death Case Review Committee'
"Same Police Officers... Will Adding External Members Make a Difference?"

Seonjeongmin Son Memorial Site at Banpo Hangang Park, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the investigation into the accident involving university student the late Son Jeongmin, who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, nears its final stages, Son Hyun, Jeongmin’s father, urged, "Please continue the investigation even if it means forming a separate dedicated team."

In a post on his blog late on the afternoon of the 21st, Son said, "The detectives at Seocho Police Station must have worked hard and endured a lot," but added, "From the bereaved family's perspective, my only grown son, whom I cherished dearly, went out in front of our house, disappeared, and was found in the Hangang River after a few days. I cannot accept the statement that the investigation will be closed."

He continued, "In the petition, I earnestly requested that even a small number of people form a dedicated team for public safety investigations," and pointed out, "For example, how did the wound on Jeongmin’s head occur, and how did it affect the circumstances of his entering the water? It seems the police have no lingering doubts about these matters."

Son expressed concern that the police might effectively conclude the investigation into Jeongmin’s accident after holding the 'Unnatural Death Case Deliberation Committee' (Deliberation Committee).

On May 8, Parents' Day, citizens are giving carnations and other gifts to Son Hyun near the water taxi dock at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Introduced in March 2019, the Deliberation Committee is a system that decides on the closure of unnatural death cases where △ the identity of the deceased is not confirmed, △ the bereaved family objects to the investigation results, and △ the police chief deems deliberation necessary, or whether additional investigation is required.

Regarding this, Son said, "There is no need to mention concerns about closing the investigation, and even if a reinvestigation is approved, it states that additional investigation must be conducted within one month before requesting a re-deliberation," adding, "It seems such rules were made because many personnel cannot devote themselves solely to these matters."

He went on, "Our country is not one where countless people die every day, so I question whether my son’s right to live is only worth a couple of months of investigation," and lamented, "Is it really that difficult to investigate a little more?"

Son had also expressed concerns about the possibility of the investigation being closed in a blog post on the 18th.

At that time, he said, "There was news about the Unnatural Death Case Deliberation Committee. From the beginning of the accident, some people informed me that such a procedure exists," and raised suspicion, "Since it’s the same police, I wondered if adding external members to the committee would make a difference, but are they trying to hold the committee first to prevent any attempt at investigation?"

He added, "Are they just testing the waters, or did the witness (fisherman) fail, so they don’t know and thus claim ignorance?" and "Some tell me to have hope, but based on what I’ve seen so far, my fear outweighs my hope."