Police Analyze 54 Nearby CCTVs and 133 Black Boxes in 'Hangang University Student Disappearance' Case... Forensic Analysis Completed (Comprehensive Report 2)

"Six Witnesses Among Nearby Bystanders Investigated as References"
Friend A's Phone Model 'iPhone 8 Space Gray'
Forensic Analysis of Missing University Student's Phone Completed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police investigating the case of university student Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, have secured and are analyzing witness statements as well as nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) and black box footage.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official told reporters on the 6th, "So far, we have secured a total of 54 CCTV videos and are conducting detailed analysis. Among these, we confirmed 5 cameras at 3 locations in the northern area," adding, "We have also obtained and are reviewing black box footage from 133 vehicles that entered Hangang Park during the time the victim was present at the scene."

He continued, "We have conducted witness interviews with a total of six individuals around the scene so far," and said, "We are also analyzing credit card usage records and call logs that we consider necessary for the investigation." The police are additionally conducting digital forensic analysis on Jeong-min’s mobile phone and securing other materials needed for the investigation.

The model of the mobile phone belonging to friend A, who was with Jeong-min until the end, has been confirmed as an ‘iPhone 8 Space Gray.’ The police have continued searching to secure this phone and on this day deployed the Hangang Police Unit to conduct searches along the riverside and underwater.

A’s mobile phone has been identified as a key clue to resolving suspicions on the day of the disappearance, but its whereabouts remain unknown. Previously, on the 25th of last month?the day Jeong-min went missing?A was seen holding Son’s phone when meeting with Jeong-min’s family. However, A’s phone was not found on Jeong-min’s body when it was discovered in the Hangang.

The official also stated regarding A discarding the shoes he was wearing at the time, "We plan to thoroughly investigate the circumstances under which the shoes were discarded by questioning the individuals involved." When asked whether A deliberately destroyed his phone, he said, "We are searching to find the phone, and if secured, we will immediately verify its identity through the carrier and request forensic analysis as part of the investigation." He added that they will also investigate the circumstances under which A possesses the phone.

Son Hyun (50), Jeong-min’s father, said in an interview with the media that regarding A’s statement about ‘throwing away the shoes,’ he went to meet A on the 26th of last month to obtain as much information as possible and to encourage cooperation with a hypnosis investigation. At that time, A said, "My friend (Jeong-min) suddenly woke up while sleeping, ran, and fell while trying to catch his teeth; at that time, his shoes and clothes got dirty."

He added, "Later, I wondered why he emphasized the story about his shoes and clothes getting dirty, since it wasn’t a place where they would normally get dirty," and said, "I wanted to see what was on them, but since I thought the clothes had been washed, I asked to see the shoes, and he immediately said he had thrown them away," raising suspicion. He also said, "I want to know how Jeong-min entered the Hangang between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m."

On the same day, it was confirmed that the Seocho Police Station also received the forensic results of Jeong-min’s mobile phone. A Seocho Police official said, "The phone forensic analysis was completed today, but we cannot disclose the details."

Jeong-min drank with a friend at Banpo Hangang Park from around 11 p.m. on the 24th of last month until about 2 a.m. the next day and then fell asleep. A, who was with him, woke up around 4:30 a.m. and returned home alone, but Jeong-min went missing and was found dead on the afternoon of the 30th of last month. It was reported that his clothing was the same as when he disappeared.

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