Song Gil-yong, who had longed to find his daughter Song Hye-hee, who went missing 25 years ago, saying he would “sell his heart to find her,” has passed away in a traffic accident without ever reuniting with her. He was 71 years old.
Song lost his daughter, Song Hye-hee, who was 17 years old at the time, in 1999. She disappeared after getting off a bus near her home in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The bus driver, who was reportedly the last person to see her, testified that he remembered an unknown man with the smell of alcohol getting off the bus with her that day.
In his desperate search for his daughter, Song gave up his livelihood and put up banners across the country that read, “Please help find the missing Song Hye-hee.”
The banners he hung could be seen not only in places like Jongno and Myeong-dong in Seoul but also in highway rest areas, university campuses in the metropolitan area, and busy intersections in rural areas.
He also appeared on broadcasts and traveled around the country in a truck with his daughter’s photo on it. In an interview with one media outlet, Song mentioned that the mileage on his newly purchased car had reached 200,000 km after scrapping the previous car he used to search for his daughter.
Song’s wife suffered from depression after their daughter went missing and passed away five years later. It is said that she passed away holding a flyer with their daughter’s face on it, which added to the tragedy.
When the policy to integrate mobile phone numbers into the 010 prefix was introduced, Song strongly insisted on keeping his 016 number, hoping that his missing daughter might call him.
Despite his efforts, Song passed away without reuniting with his daughter. As many people mourned his passing, actor Kim Woo-bin also offered his condolences.
According to the JoongAng Ilbo, the day before (August 28), a steady stream of visitors paid their respects at Song’s funeral. Flowers from the Youth Protection Division of the National Police Agency and the Child Rights Protection Agency were placed at the funeral, along with flowers from actor Kim Woo-bin.
It was reported that Kim Woo-bin’s agency was unaware of this. They later explained to JoongAng Ilbo, “We had seen the banner ‘Looking for Song Hye-hee’ before and, upon hearing the news of his passing, sent flowers as a gesture of condolence.”
Source: Insight
