YouTubers accused of exploiting, distorting college student's death

People gather for a rally at Banpo Hangang Park in southern Seoul, May 16, calling on police to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of a medical student there late last month. Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

Some YouTubers are facing criticism for exploiting the mysterious death of a medical college student and spreading unconfirmed information about the incident to boost the number of views for their videos.

These YouTubers are stoking public distrust in investigative agencies, while there are also concerns that videos containing unconfirmed claims and accusations are causing confusion in police efforts to uncover the facts behind the tragic incident.

Son Jeong-min, a 22-year-old medical student in Seoul, was found dead in the Han River, April 30, five days after he disappeared from a riverside park in southern Seoul. He disappeared allegedly after falling asleep after drinking with his friend in the park from 11 p.m., April 24, until after 2 a.m. the next morning.

A police investigation has revealed so far that the friend went home alone at around 4:30 a.m. on April 25 without knowing where Son had gone. The friend also said they both got very drunk and fell asleep in the park, and when he woke up, Son was not there.

Following an autopsy, the National Forensic Service concluded that Son drowned in the river. But some people have raised suspicions that his friend murdered him and are calling on police to arrest him at the earliest possible date.

Some YouTubers have been rushing to upload videos claiming that Son's death was a murder.

Some even interviewed shamans who offered their own takes, with one claiming that “the murderer may have had an accomplice,” while another claimed that “Son and his friend may have gotten in a fight over a girl.”

These YouTube videos have generated hundreds of thousands of views, but none of the claims have been verified by police.

Some YouTubers are also calling on viewers to offer donations of money to help solve the case, although Son's father, who has been very vocal about his view that his son's death was not accidental, has refused to be funded.

Some viewers have appeared sympathetic to these YouTubers' claims, leaving comments such as, “The truth of this incident will be uncovered by the public and not by the police,” or “The wrongful death cannot be covered up by authorities.”

But this phenomenon is raising concerns that the indiscriminate spread of false accusations and unconfirmed accounts would only stir up more suspicions and cause confusion in the ongoing police investigation.

Some internet users criticized such YouTubers of profiting off the misfortune of others.

Police also expressed concerns that unconfirmed rumors have been spread through social media as if they are facts, causing unnecessary confusion and difficulties in their investigation.

“We once again stress that we are doing our best to confirm where Son had been before he died and how he ended up in the water,” a police official said. “We ask people to trust our investigation, rather than raising suspicions.”