Missing high school senior found dead

Police officers search a park in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, to find Kim Hwi-seong, a high school senior who went missing on June 22. Police said Monday that Kim was found dead on a mountain road in the city. Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

• Published Jun 28, 2021 1:01 PM KST
• Updated Jun 28, 2021 6:27 PM KST

By Nam Hyun-woo

A high school senior who had been missing for seven days was found dead on a mountain located near his school, local police said Monday.

According to Bundang Police Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the student, Kim Hwi-seong, was found dead on a mountain road in Bundang. When found, Kim was wearing his school uniform.

Police said there were no signs of external force exerted on Kim, and no injuries or messages were found. They are assuming that Kim committed suicide and are planning to request the National Forensic Service conduct an autopsy.

Kim went missing on June 22, after sending a text message to his aunt at 4:40 p.m. that he would return home after nighttime study at his school. Then he left his smartphone at school and went to a nearby convenience store to recharge his transportation card. After leaving the store, Kim used his father's credit card to purchase books at a bookstore located next to Seohyeon Station at 5:22 p.m. He was last captured on surveillance footage at 5:28 p.m. near the bookstore.

Police said they have secured a statement that Kim was scolded by his father about his career path the previous day. Regarding this situation, family members reportedly said that they often had similar conversations and there were no particular stress factors for him.

Kim's case garnered public attention after online postings concerning his disappearance went viral.

*If you need expert help due to depression or other mental health concerns, you can receive 24-hour counseling by calling the Korean Suicide Prevention Center's hotline at 1393.