Son Jeong-min's Father: "We Dislike 'Geu-al'... Requesting Correction"

by Heo Midam

Published 31 May.2021 08:58(KST)

"Even Those Raising Reasonable Doubts Are Made to Seem Like People Misled by YouTube"

A memorial space for the late Son Jeong-min has been set up at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Son Hyun, the father of the late Son Jeongmin (22), who went missing and was found dead at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul, has refuted the contents of SBS's 'Unanswered Questions' (Geu-al) broadcast and demanded a correction.

On the early morning of the 31st, Son posted a blog entry titled 'Geu-al,' refuting some parts of the episode aired on the 29th titled 'Suspicions, Memories, and Rumors - The Secret of the Death of the Missing University Student at Hangang.'

Son opened by saying, "Even on weekends, the 'Geu-al' broadcast that dislikes us airs, and today I have to respond to that, but suddenly they said a cellphone was found, so there is no time to rest," adding, "It is important where and when the cellphone was found, but it feels like this is not well understood. We will have to wait and see."

He continued, "I will share just a few things from 'Geu-al,'" and released screenshots of messenger conversations between Jeongmin and his friend A. He said, "Because it was edited briefly on 'Geu-al,' the original meaning seems to have been lost," and urged, "Please compare."

Messenger conversation between the late Jeongmin Son and his friend A. Photo by SBS "Unanswered Questions" (left) and Hyun Son's blog (right).

According to the messages released by 'Geu-al,' Jeongmin told A, "If you need anything, contact me anytime." When A asked, "Can it not be today?" Jeongmin replied, "If you come, I will go out. I'm your A fan."

However, in the original messenger text released by Son, when A asked, "Can it not be today?" Jeongmin responded, "You're teasing me. Just before 10," and sent an emoticon showing a yellow card.

Son lamented, "Many people feel sorry that the yellow card (emoticon) was removed due to editing," adding, "They show unimportant witnesses for a long time and unnecessarily do many reenactments, so why can't they show this trivial conversation?"

Photo by SBS, screenshot from the broadcast of 'Unanswered Questions'.

Meanwhile, Son posted a screenshot of a scene containing the 'actual voice conversation of friend A,' stating, "This is the most important. In the subtitles below, Jeongmin is not our Jeongmin," and claimed, "There is another friend **, but whether intentionally or by mistake, the subtitles showed Jeongmin."

He added, "I requested a correction from the 'Geu-al' PD, but there has been no response, and it has not been changed yet. It creates a misunderstanding that the two drank together and our Jeongmin passed out but was taken care of by A. It is absolutely not Jeongmin. This is inappropriate to call a mistake. I request a correction once again," he emphasized.

Photo by SBS, screenshot from the broadcast of 'Unanswered Questions'.

Son also pointed out that the scene showing friend A's family "caused misunderstanding." He continued, "Most people mistakenly think this person is A's father. I confirmed with 'Geu-al.' This person is not A's father," he said.

He then expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "After the 'Geu-al' broadcast, people who raise reasonable suspicions were made out to be people deceived by YouTube, SBS's nemesis," adding, "It's a remarkable dichotomy. I don't know if this is 'Unanswered Questions' or if they want to fight YouTube."

Photo by Son Hyun, Blog.

Furthermore, he posted a photo of the Hangang River, saying, "Experts want us to believe that Jeongmin, who was unconscious in such dirty water at 2:18 a.m., went down the slope, put on clothes, and went in," and criticized, "They say that when drunk, you can do anything. If you can't remember for seven hours, what can't you do?"

Meanwhile, the police secured friend A's cellphone the day before. It is reported that A's cellphone is currently functioning normally.