Police Receive Reports of Youth Suicide Attempts About Once a Day... "Focused Investigation on Personal Safety Verification"

Police Respond at 'Cheongdan' Level... CCTV Analysis and Searches to Confirm Identities

Since the incident of a teenage high school girl live-streaming her suicide jump on the 16th of last month, a total of 23 reports related to youth suicide attempts have been received by the police up to the 8th of this month. Over a total of 21 days, 23 reports were filed, averaging about one youth suicide incident per day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated at a press briefing that "Among the approximately 90 suicide-related 112 emergency calls received from the 16th of last month until today, 23 were related to youth." According to the Seoul Police, about 90 suicide-related 112 calls were received from the 17th to the 24th of last month, representing an approximately 30% increase compared to about 70 calls from the 1st to the 16th of last month.

The police official added, "When reports related to youth are received, we focus on locating the youth involved," and said, "We plan to mobilize all available resources at the police station level and concentrate on verifying whereabouts through CCTV analysis and searches at the neighborhood unit level."

The police have formed a 'Depression Gallery Investigation Task Force (TF)' to investigate the specific circumstances of the death of the student who live-streamed her suicide jump on social networking services (SNS). The police have booked a man in his 20s, Mr. A, who met the deceased before her jump, on charges of assisting suicide and violating the Suicide Prevention Act, and are currently investigating him.

A police official stated, "We are currently confirming the exact circumstances of the incident based on the results of mobile phone forensics and other evidence." The police also added that they have requested the deletion and blocking of a total of 54 posts related to suicide writings and videos.

On the 16th of last month, a teenage middle school student, Ms. B, fell to her death from a high-rise building on Teheran-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It was reported that Ms. B live-streamed the incident on SNS. On the 5th of this month, Ms. C (17) and Ms. D (15) attempted suicide at the northern end of Hannam Bridge, live-streaming the process on SNS.

Regarding the investigation into the Shindaebang Fam, known to have been active in the Depression Gallery, the police stated, "We have conducted searches and seizures at locations necessary for the investigation and are currently analyzing the seized items." It is reported that a total of four people have been booked so far.

Regarding the investigation into the Democratic Party's 2021 party convention money envelope allegations, the police said, "We received the complaint on the 24th of last month and completed the complainant's investigation on the 28th of the same month," adding, "We are currently reviewing related materials and conducting additional investigations."

Regarding the candidate manipulation case, the police stated, "Last week, the Gangnam Police Station case was transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and the seized evidence such as mobile phones has been submitted to the investigation team."

Actor Yoo Ah-in (37), who is suspected of drug use, said, "The investigation is currently in its final stages, and additional questioning is planned soon."

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