'Gayang Station Disappearance' 20s... Lee Soo-jung: "May Be Alive, Not a Pattern of Extreme Choice"

Raising Various Possibilities... Accident, Crime Victim, Extreme Choice, Survival, etc.
"Communication Records Must Be Checked After 9:30 PM"

Missing person flyer for Kim Gaeul, who went missing near Gayang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A woman in her 20s went missing near Gayang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9, prompting a police investigation. A note expressing despair was found, suggesting the possibility of an extreme choice. However, Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University analyzed, "This is not a typical case of extreme choice."

In a recent interview on YTN Radio's 'Wise Radio Life,' Professor Lee stated, "While the possibility of running away from home cannot be completely ruled out, if it were a runaway case, she would not have returned to her base. Moreover, she would not have called 119. Therefore, the likelihood of running away is very slim."

Regarding the possibility of being a crime victim, she said, "According to the police announcement, it seems they are leaning toward the possibility of a crime victim being very unlikely. There is also the possibility of an accident, an extreme choice, and it cannot be completely ruled out that she is still alive."

On the possibility of an extreme choice, she noted, "The current situation is unusual. In typical cases of extreme choice, there are often many attempts even in normal times, and people around know that such a situation is likely. That was not the case here. She even posted news on social networking services (SNS) and exchanged messages with her sister."

Professor Lee said it is difficult to view Ms. Kim's behavior as that of someone who has decided on an extreme choice. He explained, "If she had decided on an extreme choice and was walking toward Gayang Bridge, it would be unusual for her to call 119 and consider her sister's situation. That is not typical behavior for someone attempting suicide."

However, he added, "It is hard to completely rule out the possibility that she suddenly felt the urge to make an extreme choice. There is room for an impulsive decision." He emphasized the need to check communication records to see who she contacted after last communicating with her sister.

Kim Ga-eul (24), who went missing on the 27th of last month, was seen on CCTV getting off a taxi near Gayang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 around 10:22 p.m. and walking about 1 km toward the southern end of Gayang Bridge. Since then, her whereabouts have been unknown.

Looking at Kim's movements that day, after leaving work at a company in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, she visited a nearby hair salon and posted a photo on her Instagram with the caption, "Got caught in wind and rain right after a perm, lost 130,000 won. Gangnam is really a place where you get ripped off with your eyes open." After around 9:30 p.m., contact with her sister and friends was lost.

Her older sister, who lives with Kim, said that an ambulance suddenly arrived around 11 p.m. on the night of the disappearance. She said, "I heard that the paramedics were dispatched after receiving a report that 'the sister seemed about to collapse,'" adding to the mystery.

The police investigating the case found a Korean document on Kim's tablet PC that hinted at an extreme choice. The document reportedly contained a will stating, "I hope no one mourns my death."