"Desperate for Any Tip" Kim Hweseong Missing for 7 Days

Weekend search conducted with riot police, helicopters, and search dogs
Last seen moving toward bus stop on the 22nd
No card usage records; phone left at school
Police investigating with all possibilities open

On the 22nd, after school, Kim Hwiseong, a third-year student at Bundang Seohyeon High School, whose whereabouts have been unknown since, was seen purchasing a workbook at Yeongpoong Bookstore in Seohyeon Station and then coming up the escalator. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Search operations continue for Kim Hweseong, a third-year student at Seohyeon High School in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, who has been missing for seven days since the 22nd. The police mobilized task forces, helicopters, and drones over the weekend to intensify the search efforts but have yet to find any decisive clues.

On the 27th, starting at 10 a.m., the Bundang Police Station in Seongnam deployed about 190 task force members, helicopters, drones, and search fire dogs to conduct a large-scale search around Bundang Yuldong Park, Saemaeul Training Center, and Cheoneun Jeongsa Temple.

The police also conducted searches on the 26th with 54 task force members and equipment around Central Park and nearby hills close to Kim’s residence. Subsequently, the search area has been expanded around Seohyeon Station, where Kim was last captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV).

Additionally, all vehicle black boxes near the bus stop, Kim’s last known location, have been collected and analyzed, but due to low video quality, identifying individuals has been challenging.

Kim went missing on the 22nd. The last confirmed sighting was around 4:40 p.m. that day when he left school, purchased a book at a bookstore near Seohyeon Station, and then moved toward the bus stop.

Although there is a record of Kim recharging his transportation card after school, there are no records of him using either the transportation card or credit card. His mobile phone was left at school on the day he disappeared, making location tracking impossible.

Flyer searching for missing Kim / Photo by Online Community Capture

Kim’s family previously distributed flyers seeking help to find him through social networking services (SNS) and online communities. They also posted on the Blue House’s national petition board requesting assistance.

The family described Kim’s appearance at the time of disappearance as follows: "He was wearing the Seohyeon High School uniform, but if he changed clothes, he might have been wearing gray Seohyeon High School pants or a navy tracksuit if he changed into gym clothes. He wore white Nike sneakers, and because he is tall, he might appear as an adult if dressed in casual clothes."

They appealed, saying, "We have had no contact since he left school on the 22nd. There are no records of transportation card or credit card usage. We desperately ask for any information, no matter how small."

Meanwhile, the police obtained Kim’s mobile phone and conducted a digital forensic analysis, which reportedly revealed no indications of crime or school violence.

The family also reportedly told the police that "Although the father scolded Kim about his career path the day before he went missing, the family relationship is harmonious."

The police plan to keep all possibilities open, including beyond simple runaway, as they continue the investigation.

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