The news of that day has passed, but its meaning remains with us today. "That Day in History" reads the present through the records of the past.
In the early hours of April 25, 2021, medical student Son Jung-min (then 22) went missing at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. Son had been drinking with a friend, identified as A, near the water taxi platform at Banpo Hangang Park from around 11 p.m. on April 24 until about 2 a.m. the following morning. A woke up before dawn and went home, but Son remained at the scene and then vanished. The case became public after Son's father posted about the disappearance on his blog, and six days later, on April 30, Son's body was recovered from the Han River.
NFS: "Cause of death was drowning"… Police: "No signs of homicide"
An autopsy by the National Forensic Service concluded that the cause of death was drowning. Police determined there were no signs of homicide and ruled the case a simple accidental fall. The bereaved family called for the investigation to be reopened, arguing that "Son had a habit of falling asleep when drunk, making it unlikely he fell into the river alone."
Suspicions of foul play arose after a pre-mortem injury accompanied by subcutaneous bleeding was found behind Son's left ear, and traces of his own blood were detected on the left shoulder and neck area of his shirt. However, forensic experts assessed that the autopsy did not show signs of force or restraint on the chest, shoulders or neck — key indicators in determining drowning caused by another party.
Suspicions surrounding A… Both police and prosecutors cite "insufficient evidence"
Suspicions grew as it emerged that A had taken Son's mobile phone home and that the shoes A had worn that day had been discarded. Some YouTubers identified A as the perpetrator and spread claims that the case had been covered up through influential connections. A's attorney explained that "he had little memory due to a blackout, making it difficult to give a statement," and said the shoes had been thrown out by his mother during a household cleanup without realizing the gravity of the situation.
Police conducted four witness interviews with A, two forensic hypnosis sessions and one profiler interview, but found no evidence of criminal involvement. After the bereaved family filed a complaint against A on charges of assault resulting in death and abandonment resulting in death, the case was referred to the prosecution. But in December 2023, prosecutors issued a non-indictment decision on grounds of insufficient evidence, stating, "We conducted supplementary investigations including interviews with the complainants, witness questioning and on-site verification, but it is difficult to establish the alleged facts."
Family appeals; case remains unsolved
Son's family filed an appeal against the prosecution's decision. In the wake of the case, the Seoul Metropolitan Government installed about 400 additional CCTV cameras at Han River parks in March 2022 and pushed for an ordinance revision designating Han River parks as alcohol-free zones. In an interview with one media outlet, Son's father said, "I have not yet let my son go," expressing his determination to uncover the truth. Four years after the incident, the questions surrounding Son's death remain officially unresolved.
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