Police stumped by case of missing high school senior

 

A screenshot from CCTV footage shows Kim Hwi-seong, a high school senior in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, leaving a Youngpoong Bookstore branch near his school, June 22. He has been missing ever since then. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

A high school senior remains Bóng độ for about a week. Despite an extensive search, police have not found any clues and find themselves stumped as to whether the student disappeared voluntarily, was kidnapped or was the victim of other serious crimes.

According to police, Sunday, Kim Hwi-seong, 18, a senior at Seohyun High School in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, has been out of contact since after school on June 22.

On the day of his disappearance, Kim left school at 4:40 p.m. after sending a text message to his parents, saying he would return home that night.

Leaving his cell phone in the desk drawer of his classroom, he left school and recharged his transportation card at a nearby convenience store about 10 minutes after sending the text message. He then headed to Youngpoong Bookstore near Seohyeon Metro Station.

After buying five college entrance exam books there, Kim descended from a pedestrian overpass near the metro station using an elevator. His last appearance was filmed on a CCTV camera inside the elevator at 5:28 p.m.

A flyer containing photos and a description of high school senior Kim Hwi-seong who has been missing since June 22. Yonhap

He recharged his transportation card, but there is no record of him having used it. He typically used his father's credit card, but there is no record of him having used that either, according to police.

Police have been securing images taken from the black boxes of nearby vehicles in an attempt to identify Kim's whereabouts, while also conducting a search in the mountains and parks near his home and school.

Around 180 police officers have been deployed to conduct a massive search, but so far, no clues to his whereabouts have been found yet.

Police confirmed that Kim was not involved in any acts of school violence, but he was scolded by his father over a "career issue" the day before he disappeared. He did not leave any messages for his family or friends. There are also no records on his cell phone and computer at home of him searching for words related to running away from his home or otherwise, according to the police.

"We haven't found any evidence of a crime having taken place. But we are not ruling out any possibilities," a police officer said.

Kim's family is looking for him by posting photos of him on social media and elsewhere online.

A petition was also posted on the website of the presidential office on Friday, calling for public attention to the search.