Experts Say Low Possibility of Homicide in Late Son Jeongmin Case... Father Appeals 'Distortion of Witness Testimony'

Photo by SBS, capture from 'Unanswered Questions'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Amid ongoing debates surrounding the case of university student Son Jeong-min (22), who was found dead after going missing at Hangang Park, experts have expressed a low likelihood of homicide.

Son Jeong-min's father, Son Hyun (50), posted an article titled "Witnesses and Briefing" on his blog on the 29th. Son said, "I felt very frustrated as there was nothing I could do," and added, "Today, I want to talk about the witness statements and the briefing by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency."

Regarding the witness testimonies, Son mentioned, "After watching the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's briefing, I felt that it was different from what we had heard." He raised suspicions such as, "The witness accounts describe waking him up, but in the photos, Jeong-min appears to be left unattended," and disclosed text messages with one witness.

Son also claimed, "I was able to see how the witness statements were distorted," and "Since we cannot meet the other witnesses, we cannot be certain that the announcement is correct." He explained, "Today, A's lawyer is harassing us again," and added, "There have been many news articles about the drinking, but since netizens have responded with comments, I don't think it needs to be mentioned."

Meanwhile, on the 29th, SBS's "Unanswered Questions" delved into various suspicions surrounding Son Jeong-min's death. The episode titled "Suspicions, Memories, and Rumors - The Secret of the Death of the Missing University Student at Hangang" covered expert opinions on Son Jeong-min's death and the stance of friend A's family. According to the broadcast, A's family expressed, "It feels unfair to be called a murderer on the internet," "There are no high-ranking police officials among our relatives," and "We also hope for a thorough investigation just like Jeong-min's father."

Experts unanimously explained that the possibility of Son Jeong-min being murdered is low. Professor Yuseong Ho of Seoul National University's Department of Forensic Medicine stated, "When examining drowning caused by others, the most important areas to check are injuries on the chest, neck, and shoulders. However, (Son's body) showed no signs of restraint or suppression." Professor Park Jiseon of Sookmyung Women's University's Department of Social Psychology also expressed, "There is no circumstantial evidence suggesting that A was involved in the deceased's death. I believe the possibility of homicide is very low."

Additionally, Professor Lee Sujeong of Kyonggi University's Department of Criminal Psychology explained, "For this to be a criminal case, Jeong-min's friend should not have reappeared at the scene or had his phone discovered." She further analyzed, "If he had not been caught on CCTV with his parents, it would have been much easier to conceal. At 5:30, when A's mother called, the case reached a point where it could never become a crime."

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