"No Suspicion of Homicide? Nonsense," Frog Boys' Families Express Outrage [Interview]

Interview with Woo Jong-woo, Representative of the Frog Boys' Bereaved Families
Low Credibility of Recent Frog Boys Crime Post
"Why Did It Happen?" Statute of Limitations Ended... Hope Truth Is Revealed

Woo Jong-woo, the representative of the bereaved families of the "Gaeguri Boys," is explaining the Gaeguri Boys case, which has recently gained national attention. The photo shows an interview in July 2020. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "We believe it was a homicide. However... it does not seem that tools were used."

On March 26, 1991, the day when local autonomy was revived after 30 years and elections were held to elect basic council members, it was a temporary holiday. On this day, five elementary school boys living in Dalseo-gu, Daegu?Woo Cheol-won (13 at the time), Jo Ho-yeon (12), Kim Young-gyu (11), Park Chan-in (10), and Kim Jong-sik (9)?left their homes saying they were going to Waryongsan Mountain behind their house to collect salamander eggs. After going missing, their remains were found 11 years and 6 months later on September 26, 2002. The case became known as the "Frog Boys Disappearance Case," named after the salamander eggs, and remains one of the worst long-term unsolved cases.

Then, on the 1st of last month, a post appeared on an online community claiming that the case was a homicide, the murder weapon was presumed to be a "vernier caliper," and the perpetrators were likely delinquent youths living nearby. Some argued that this post was credible and called for a reinvestigation of the case. The bereaved families, however, did not consider the content trustworthy. Below is a Q&A with Woo Jong-woo, the father of the missing Woo and representative of the Frog Boys bereaved families.

- Why do you think the vernier caliper was not the murder weapon?

△ The vernier caliper is quite long. It’s somewhat inconvenient to carry around... (According to another post) it explains a bit, but the idea that the children were dragged around while committing the crime? That seems a bit far-fetched.

The author of the community post said the vernier caliper was considered the blunt weapon used because "technical high school students often carry them around as freshmen." The bereaved families also found this claim unconvincing.

- Was there no high school near Waryongsan?

△ There was a school called OO Middle School, but it was located by the roadside where many witnesses could have been present. Especially at that time, there was no technical high school. The technical high school was established after the incident.

- Then, what do you think about the possibility that a similar tool, not the vernier caliper, was used as the murder weapon?

△ Well... we want to say many things, but it’s all speculation, and we don’t really know. We’re also curious about how the tips and information were obtained. As for the claim that the children died of natural causes, that’s impossible. This is a case where the children were murdered.

The scene of the campaign to find the children during the 'Frog Boys Missing Case' that occurred in Daegu in 1991. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The natural death theory, which the bereaved families oppose, is a hypothesis presented in the book published in March by a former police officer who investigated the case and a journalist who covered it. The book’s main point is that the children, having lost their way on Waryongsan Mountain without even having lunch, died of hypothermia after being exposed to cold March weather and rain. The clothes found tied around their hands and feet were self-tied due to the cold, and the murder weapon was never confirmed. The skull injuries were presumed to have occurred postmortem, emphasizing natural death rather than crime or homicide.

Regarding this, the bereaved families said, "That’s nonsense. A rock rolling and breaking their heads? We don’t know who or why, but this is clearly a murder case." In fact, the children’s skulls bear sharp-shaped wounds such as ㄷ, V, and X marks, which could not have been caused by natural stones.

- Please share any message you want to convey to the public about the "Frog Boys" case.

△ We appeal for this case to be solved. We sincerely appeal.

The bereaved families currently maintain that the case was a homicide and, if the perpetrator is still alive, since the statute of limitations has expired, they want the reason for the crime to be revealed. In the past, he said, "The statute of limitations has expired. I hope for a confession of conscience. It doesn’t have to be on the news or show your face. Just leave a note somewhere saying ‘I did it.’ Why did you do that to five innocent children all at once? This is our appeal."

Meanwhile, at the time, the police claimed it was highly likely the children died of hypothermia after getting lost. However, the forensic team at Kyungpook National University, which conducted the autopsy, concluded it was a clear homicide. Yet, neither the perpetrator nor the murder weapon was identified. Regarding the suspicion that a vernier caliper was used, the police said they had already received tips. However, the investigation concluded that the damage to the remains did not match the vernier caliper, and despite checking the whereabouts of about 900 delinquent students over five months, no significant clues were found.

Since the statute of limitations for murder cases at the time was 15 years, the statute expired on March 25, 2006. Every year on March 26, a memorial event is held at Sebanggol, the site related to the boys’ disappearance. On March 26 this year, a memorial ceremony and the unveiling of the "Frog Boys Memorial and Children’s Safety Prayer Monument" were held at Seonwon Park on Waryongsan Mountain.