[2020 National Audit] Four Elementary Students Missing Nationwide... Park Wansu: "We Must Find Them Until the End"

Police Launch Investigation to Determine Whereabouts

Park Wan-su, member of the People Power Party./Provided by the member's office

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been confirmed that four elementary school students are missing nationwide, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to the National Assembly audit data submitted to Park Wan-soo, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, by the National Police Agency on the 7th, as of the end of August this year, 57 students who were absent from elementary and middle schools for more than seven days had their cases referred to the police by the schools. Among them, the whereabouts of 47 students were immediately confirmed.

Of the remaining 10, five were abroad with their parents or others, and two were habitual runaway middle school students whose whereabouts were identified through tracking. However, the whereabouts of three elementary school students?two in Chungnam and one in Busan?remain unknown.

Separately, 402 students who did not attend preliminary elementary and middle school orientation sessions had their cases referred to the police by the schools, of whom 384 were soon located. Among the remaining 18, 17 were found to be overseas. One elementary school student residing in Jeonbuk is still missing.

In particular, the four missing elementary school students are also out of contact with their parents, raising concerns about possible accidents or incidents, according to Representative Park. In the case of students who have gone abroad, only their departure has been confirmed, but their exact whereabouts remain unknown.

The police have begun investigations to verify whether these students are safe and alive.

Representative Park stated, "The police, education authorities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other related agencies must closely cooperate to find the children," adding, "Considering school closures due to COVID-19, if related agencies do not pool their capabilities, it will be difficult to distinguish between long-term absences caused by incidents or accidents and to confirm the whereabouts of missing students."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.