Son Jeongmin's Father Reveals Text Messages from Friend's Parents "Released Due to False Statement"

On the morning of the 18th, a memorial space for the late Son Jeong-min was set up near the water taxi dock at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Amid ongoing disputes over the truth regarding the case of the late Son Jeong-min, who went missing and was found dead at Seoul Hangang Park, Jeong-min's father, Son Hyun, claimed on the 18th through his blog that some factual details in the statement from friend A, who was with Jeong-min on the day of the incident, are incorrect and called it a "false statement."

Son asserted that the part of A's statement saying, "While A and A's father were looking for the deceased, the deceased's mother sent a text message to A's mother saying, 'The police report has been filed. Now that we are here, please go home,' and A and his family returned home," is not true.

Son continued, "According to the video provided by KBS, (A's family) looked at the CCTV together at 5:54:34 a.m. and then left to the left," and he also disclosed part of the text message exchange between his wife and A's mother. According to this, Son's wife sent a message to A's mother at 6:03 a.m. saying, "We have reported to the police and are also searching, so please take A inside." A's mother replied two minutes later, "A is not in his right mind; please contact me as soon as Jeong-min is found."

Son argued, "Since A's family appears to have left about 10 minutes before A's mother sent the message, A's statement that they went home after receiving the message is false." He explained the reason for revealing the text messages, saying, "I did not want to disclose these things, but I had no choice but to reveal some parts after seeing the false statement."

Meanwhile, the police announced that they have secured testimony from seven people who were fishing around 4:40 a.m. last month when Jeong-min went missing, stating that an unidentified man was seen walking into the Hangang River. They reportedly testified, "He gradually submerged from the knees and entered as if swimming, and we did not think it was an emergency rescue situation, so we did not report it." The police are currently verifying the connection between the man seen and Jeong-min through additional witness accounts and analysis of nearby CCTV footage.

Regarding this, Son expressed disbelief on his blog. He said, "Suddenly, news about a new witness came out as breaking news today, and I received contacts from all directions," adding, "The existence of the witness is absurd, and swimming fully clothed at dawn is not worth responding to." He added, "I don't want to believe it, but the unfolding circumstances are making me anxious again."

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