Missing Child's 44-Year Secret Revealed

In May 1975, a shocking truth was revealed 44 years after six-year-old Shin Gyeong-ha disappeared from her front yard. The 141st episode of KBS2's "Smoking Gun" will cover this case under the title, "Mom, I'm So Sorry... I Am So Sorry - Flower Shoes Found After 44 Years." At the time, her parents put their livelihoods aside to search the entire country for their daughter, but no one had seen Gyeong-ha. After 44 years, the couple received news that they had found their daughter.

Gyeong-ha was their eldest daughter, born when she was 19. She was a bright and intelligent child. If she had remembered her name or the neighborhood she lived in, it might have been possible to find her. However, she vanished without a trace. 44 years later, her mother, Han Tae-soon, discovers the crucial clue, the 'smoking gun,' that explains why her daughter had to disappear. On the broadcast, Ahn Hyun-mo and Lee Ji-hye will express their sorrow over the case and convey the mother's desperate feelings.

On this episode, Han Tae-soon, the mother of the missing daughter, will appear in person to reveal the full story of the case and her feelings over the years. Additionally, lawyer Hwang Jun-hyeop, who is handling Ms. Han's lawsuit, will appear to analyze the cause of the tragic incident and determine responsibility. The mother's journey of searching for her daughter for 44 years can be seen on May 5th at 9:45 PM on KBS2's "Smoking Gun."

The plaintiff argued that the tragedy occurred due to the police's negligent investigation and the state's dereliction of duty, filing a lawsuit for these comprehensive illegal acts. The defendant, on the other hand, claimed no responsibility or lack of relevant records, raising the issue of the 'statute of limitations' and foreshadowing a fierce legal battle. Notably, this lawsuit comes after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission designated organized human rights violations during overseas adoptions as 'grave human rights violations by state power' in March, drawing attention to the judiciary's judgment.

In court, the plaintiff's legal representative detailed the events after Shin Gyeong-ha's disappearance in 1975, pointing out that the Cheongju Police Station did not conduct active investigative activities despite the missing person report. Furthermore, they argued that the state processed the missing child as an orphan and proceeded with adoption without verifying the guardian, and that the orphanage and Holt Children's Services also made no effort to find her relatives. In response, the government maintained that the state bore no responsibility, and the orphanage claimed to have no relevant records. Holt Children's Services raised the possibility of the statute of limitations having expired, making it a key point of contention.