"From a Parent's Perspective, We Couldn't Just Stand By"... Citizens Launch Mobile Phone Searches

Volunteer Civil Search Team 'Atom'
Searches Friend Son Jeong-min's Cell Phone
Joining with Sickles to Cut Grass
Coming from Bundang, Suwon, Sweating Hard
"The Cause of the Accident Must Be Accurately Revealed"

Volunteers are conducting a search to find the cellphone of A, a friend of Son Jeong-min./Photo by Lee Jung-yoon leejuyoo@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] "As a parent raising children, I didn't feel at ease staying at home. I came out to help even a little."

On the afternoon of Saturday the 8th, around 1 p.m., near Seoul Hangang Park. Seven people were intently searching for something among the bushes. They were volunteers searching for the cellphone of friend A, who was last with Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was found dead in Hangang Park. Upon hearing that the civilian search team 'Atom' was searching for the cellphone, they gave up their weekend and rushed over. Holding a sickle in one hand, they cut through the grass to find the phone. There were scratches on the sickle's handle from use, and despite the windy weather, sweat formed on their faces.

Jo (67, female), who participated in the search from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day, was the oldest volunteer. Living in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, she headed straight to Hangang Park upon hearing about the search. Jo said, "My back aches and my hands hurt from cutting grass with a sickle after a long time, but I came out because I think the various suspicions surrounding this death need to be clarified," adding, "I believe finding the cellphone is important for that."

The next day, Sunday the 9th, volunteers continued to come from the morning to participate in the cellphone search. Volunteer Jo (50, female) said, "I was moved to volunteer by the restrained paternal love and cold composure of Jeong-min’s father, beneath which I felt a cry of anguish," adding, "I sincerely hope the cause of this accident is accurately revealed."

On the 5th, 8th, and 9th of this month, Atom conducted search operations near Hangang Park three times. Each search saw 20 to 30 citizens volunteering. Although no clear results have emerged, Atom plans to continue volunteering to uncover the truth of this case.

Atom’s team leader explained, "We are a voluntary volunteer group with about 300 citizens participating in our group chat," adding, "Volunteers gathered not only from Seoul but also from Bundang, Ilsan, Suwon, and other areas for this search." He continued, "We hope to help resolve some of the many questions, even if just a little," and emphasized, "We have no plans whatsoever to create a donation account related to this case and will participate with pure intentions."

The cellphone search near Hangang Park conducted by Atom ended after the third search. However, on the 10th and 11th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., three members of a civilian deep-sea diving team will conduct underwater searches. They will use detection equipment to search for the cellphone in an area 200 meters wide and 100 meters long in front of the Banpo Hangang Park water taxi dock. The diving team stated, "Although the weather is cloudy, we will proceed with the underwater search as planned," but added, "However, the plan may change depending on how fast the current is."

Friend A’s cellphone has been identified as a key clue that could resolve suspicions surrounding Jeong-min’s disappearance, but its whereabouts remain unknown. On the day Jeong-min went missing, the 25th of last month, A was seen holding Jeong-min’s cellphone when meeting with Jeong-min’s family. The cellphone of A was not found on Jeong-min, who was discovered in the Hangang. The police revealed that A’s cellphone model is an ‘iPhone 8 Space Gray.’ The police have been searching near the Hangang to secure the cellphone, and the Hangang Police Unit has continued underwater searches.

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