"The Director of the Comfort Women Shelter's Death Was a Suicide"…Police Plan to Close Investigation

by Yoo Byeongdon

Published 23 Jun.2020 10:56(KST)

Investigation of Related Persons and Witnesses to Proceed as Scheduled for Identifying Motive

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police investigating the death of Son Mo (60), director of the Mapo Shelter (Our House of Peace) for Japanese military comfort women victims under the Justice and Memory Solidarity, have concluded that Son’s death was a result of an extreme choice.

According to the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency on the 23rd, the police received a report from the National Forensic Service on the 22nd stating that the cause of Son’s death was determined to be an extreme choice. This matches the initial verbal opinion given immediately after the autopsy on the 8th.

Since there is no suspicion of criminal charges, the police plan to close the case as an internal investigation, but they will conduct witness interviews with people around Son to clarify the motive behind the extreme choice.

The police are reportedly reviewing potential witnesses for investigation, including Pastor Hwang Sun-hee (61) and his wife, the adopted son and daughter-in-law of comfort woman victim Gil Won-ok (91), who lived at the Mapo Shelter, as well as individuals who had phone conversations with Son.

Pastor Hwang and his wife are said to be involved because Gil grandmother’s daughter-in-law sent Son a text message regarding the Justice and Memory Solidarity’s account issues a few days before Son’s death, and the police are verifying the facts related to this matter.

A representative from the Paju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province stated, "In accordance with the principles of handling unnatural death cases, we will investigate the necessary facts step by step. However, we cannot disclose specific details or schedules of the investigation."