President Lee Orders Full Mobilization of All Resources in Search for Missing Elementary Student in Juwangsan

President Lee Presides Over Cabinet Meeting

"Every Minute and Second Counts... This Is a Vital Duty of the State"

After Receiving Report on Personnel Deployment, Says "That Seems Far Too Few... Mobilize as Many as Possible"

President Lee Jaemyung on May 12 instructed that "all available resources must be fully mobilized for the search" for the missing elementary school student at Juwangsan in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province.

Yonhap News

During his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review session held at the Blue House that day, President Lee stated, "A heartbreaking incident has occurred. There is an elementary school student missing at Juwangsan in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province." He issued these instructions accordingly.

The elementary school student, who resides in Daegu, visited a temple within Juwangsan National Park with their parents on May 10. After saying, "I'll just go up the mountain for a bit," the child disappeared. Authorities received a missing person report and have been conducting a search operation for the third consecutive day to locate the student.

President Lee noted, "It's now the third day of the search, but it appears the student has not yet been found," and added, "Since every minute and second is critical, I ask that all resources necessary for the search be mobilized." He further emphasized, "Ensuring that the missing child can return to their family as soon as possible is a vital responsibility of the state."

During the meeting, President Lee personally checked on the status of the search for the missing child. He asked, "The police are mainly conducting the search, correct?" and then instructed, "Do you know approximately how many personnel have been deployed? Please find out how many people are involved."

President Lee then stated, "It may be more hectic and difficult for 1,000 people to search in a single day than for 500 people to search over two days, but it could be more efficient," highlighting the need to increase search personnel. When Yu Jaeseong, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, reported that 281 police officers and 28 firefighters had been deployed at the scene, President Lee replied, "That seems too few," and instructed, "Mobilize as many as possible. It would be best if everyone thoroughly searches and responds swiftly."

He reiterated, "Mobilize as many as possible—the area of Juwangsan is not that large—so make sure to search thoroughly."

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