Unexpected Update on Korean Youth Missing in Paris "Cut Off from Outside for 6 Months"

Lost contact after arriving in Paris last April
Posted on Instagram... "I wanted to try joining the Foreign Legion"

The whereabouts of a Korean male traveler who went missing in Paris, France last April have been reported after five months. It is known that he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion and is undergoing training.

Previously, the Korean man, Kim Mo (31), entered Paris, France via India last April, and lost contact after taking a photo of the Eiffel Tower on the 19th.

The Korean Embassy in France received a report from his family that Kim had met an acquaintance in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on the afternoon of the 18th and had been out of contact since the 19th. The embassy filed a missing person report with the local police and posted the missing person's photo and personal information on its website and social media accounts to locate him, which also brought the news of Kim's disappearance to Korea.

Korean Mr. Kim (second from the right) training in the French Foreign Legion [Image source=Instagram capture]

Fifteen days after losing contact, Kim's whereabouts were confirmed through a tip-off, and it was confirmed that he was safe, though his exact location was not disclosed. At that time, the embassy explained that there was nothing abnormal about Kim's condition and that there were no unusual circumstances.

Later, on the 19th, Kim posted several photos on his Instagram wearing the uniform of the French Foreign Legion with his comrades, stating, "I have become a member of the French Foreign Legion," and added, "I was undergoing six months of training in a place cut off from the outside world, so I was late in giving news."

Kim said, "It was my fault. I tried to challenge quietly, but communication with my family was not smooth, so it caused a lot of commotion," and added, "Regardless of the reason, I would like to thank many people who helped me from various places."

The French Foreign Legion is a division-level regular army unit that accepts foreign nationals. Applicants must meet certain physical conditions and be between 17 and 39 years and 6 months old. According to the French Foreign Legion website, 1,600 members were recruited this year, and the initial service period is five years. After completing the mandatory five-year service, one can obtain French citizenship and pension eligibility.

In the past, there have been rare cases where some Koreans enlisted in the Foreign Legion and lost contact.