The Frog Boys (Korean: 개구리소년, Gaegurisonyeon) were a group of five young boys who disappeared in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, on March 26, 1991.
Woo Cheol-won, Jo Ho-yeon, Kim Young-gyu, Park Chan-in and Kim Jong-sik, aged between 9 and 13 years old, disappeared after searching for salamander eggs in the western outskirts of Daegu on a public holiday. Their disappearance received widespread attention and caused a national media frenzy, and South Korean President Roh Tae-woo ordered a massive manhunt by the police and military to find them.
On September 26, 2002, the remains of the boys were discovered near where they vanished, with some showing signs of blunt-force trauma. The investigation has been inconclusive and theories abound regarding the circumstances of their deaths. The case remains unsolved.
Victims
editThe Frog Boys were aged between 9 and 13 years old:[1]
- Woo Cheol-won (aged 13)
- Jo Ho-yeon (aged 12)
- Kim Yeong-gyu (aged 11)
- Park Chan-in (aged 10)
- Kim Jong-sik (aged 9)
All five boys were from the Dalseo District of Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, and attended the same elementary school. On the morning of the disappearance, a sixth child, nine-year-old Kim Tae-ryong, left the group to return home and eat breakfast. He came back to the group after he finished eating but decided not to carry on with the group because his mother had warned him earlier not to stray too far from home.
Circumstances and disappearance
editMarch 26, 1991, was a public holiday in South Korea, as it marked the first local elections held since the fall of the country's military dictatorship in December 1987. The five boys decided to spend the day searching for salamander eggs in the streams of Mount Waryong (35°52′01″N 128°30′47″E / 35.867°N 128.513°E), on the western outskirts of Daegu.[2] The boys never returned home, and after they were reported missing, their story made national headlines. South Korean President Roh Tae-woo sent 300,000 police and military troops to search for the boys,[1] with the searches shown on live television.[3] All five of the boys' fathers quit their jobs to look for their children around the country.[1] Mount Waryong was searched over 500 times.[4]
Discovery of bodies
editOn September 26, 2002, two men searching for acorns discovered the bodies of the boys on Mount Waryong, in an area that had been previously searched. They first reported the remains via an anonymous phone call.[5] Police initially stated they the boys had died of hypothermia. However, their parents rejected that conclusion and demanded a full investigation, pointing out that of one of the boy's clothes had been found tied in knots and unused bullets were found in his clothes, as well as the fact that their bodies were discovered a short distance from a nearby village the boys knew well.[1][6] Forensic experts found that the skulls of three of the children showed blunt-force trauma, possibly from metal farming tools. Police then stated the children could have been killed by someone who "may have flown into a rage."[7]
Aftermath
editIn 2006, the statute of limitations expired on the case.[8] However, in 2015, the National Assembly voted to remove the statute of limitations on first-degree murder, opening the possibility of criminal charges if a suspect is found.[9] On the thirtieth anniversary of their disappearance, the city of Daegu installed a memorial monument near the location called the "Frog Boy Memorial and Children's Safety Prayer Monument" (Korean: 개구리소년 추모 및 어린이 안전 기원비). The Daegu police also announced a new task force to review the case from the beginning and follow-up on any new information they receive.[10]
Popular culture
editThe Frog Boys incident has been the subject of two films: Come Back, Frog Boys (1992)[11] and Children (2011). Several songs also refer to the case[12] as well as the documentary In Search of the Frog Boys (2019).[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Sun-yoon, Hwang (January 6, 2003). "Bodies of 5 'frog boys,' missing since 1991, found on mountain". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "실종국교생 5명 3일째 행방묘연" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. March 28, 1991. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "Fictional resolution mars movie about unsolved murder". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 11, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "After Discovery of Taegu Remains, Cause of Death Still Uncertain". The Korea Times. September 28, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ Sung-Kyu Kim (September 27, 2002). "Police Continue Excavation, Find Loaded Shell Near the Site". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ Sun-yoon, Hwang (January 6, 2003). "'Frog boys' baffle investigators". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Sun-yoon, Hwang; Ki-hwan, Chung (January 6, 2003). "'Frog boys' probably murdered". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "Statute Runs Out for Unsolved 'Frog Boys' Murder". Chosun Daily. March 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "'Cold cases' may walk again as South Korea removes statute of limitations on murder". South China Morning Post. July 25, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ ""제보 들어오면 방대한 수사진행"…개구리소년 수사 30년째 미궁". Yonhap News Agency. March 26, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ "돌아오라 개구리 소년" (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "[EDITORIALS]Missing persons ignored". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 6, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "Intrigue, scandal, heartbreak: The case of South Korea's missing 'frog boys'". CNA. February 2, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2022.