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Into Thin Korean Air: The Disappearance of Mr. Jeong The Three Wise Monkeys Magazine Archive

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Into Thin Korean Air: The Disappearance of Mr. Jeong

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ByMichaelFraiman Editorsnote:Somenameshavebeenchangedinthisstoryattherequestofindividualswhowished toremainanonymous. CharlesJeongwokeupquietly onthemorningofSunday,July 15.Nobodynoticedanything strangeabouthim.The49year oldtourguidehadslept peacefullyamongexpatshalfhis ageonthecommunal minbak floor,wokenonlybythehazy latemorningsun.Overhis scrawnyframe,hepulledona loosefittingwhitetshirtand tightenedhisbeachshorts, slippedonhisglasses,andthrew onthekindofcheapbaseballcap hedoftenusedtohidetheearly stagesofarecedinghairline.

InJuly,CharlesJeong,49,disappearedfromatripheorganized.He'sbeenmissing since.

Itwasthelastdayofthe BoryeongMudFestival,anannualbeachpartyfamousamongWesternexpatsforbeingasmessy withmudaswithalcohol,andJeonghad,truetocharacter,consumedenoughsojuthatweekendto intoxicateasmallvillage.Thiswasnotatriphedbeenkeentomake.Anavidhikeranddistance runnerwithanencyclopedicknowledgeofthecountrysmountainsandwildlife,Jeongcreatedhis grassrootstravelgroup,LovableBusan,forexpatstoexploreKoreasoffthebeatentrackside. JeongdidNOTliketheMudfesttripatall,GregoryReilly,afriendwhotraveledwithJeongtothe festivalin2010,laterwrotetome,addingthatsomanypeoplerequestitfromhimthathewould justdoit.Butinpublic,fewcouldhaveknown:inapodcastinterviewfromMarch2010,Jeong calledtheexpatheavyfestivaloneofthebestinKorea.By2012,hisBoryeongtripgrewsopopular thathehadtohiretwocharteredbuses.Herarelycomplained,and,aswithallhistrips,neverdenied

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expatsthechancetojoin.Beingpickyisnotmystyleoflife,heoncewroteonFacebook. HesteppedoutoftheSharonMinbakundertheovercastskysometimebetween10and11oclock, touchedbythedrizzlefromahighupfog.Ahandfulofhistourgoerssatonanearbypatio,awaiting instruction.Comebackat3:30,hetoldthem.Thebuseswouldleavethen,sharp.Hisfriendsrolled theireyes,knowingthatJeongrarelyleftanywheresharp,whetherbyhisownmiscalculationsor somecurseoverhanginghim.(Themostrecentexample:thegrouparrivedatBoryeong12hours behindschedule.ThebuseshadbeenheldupbyaseverehighwayaccidentonFridaynight,Jeong toldthem,thengotlostfortwomorehoursonSaturdaymorning.AccordingtoMitchell,aLovable Busanmemberwhopreferredtoremainanonymous,Generally,withCharles,thingsdontrunas planned.) Jeongwasinvitedtoanearbybeachworkoutbeforelunch,butdeclined.Geoff,afriendwhoalso requestedanonymity,sawhimsittingalonebyabench.HeapproachedJeongandaskedwhatwas wrong,butJeongshruggeditoff.Hewasnthappy,Geofflaterrecalledtome.Youcouldtell. Jeonginsteadjoinedfiveexpatsforlunch.Theywalkedtoanearbyseafoodrestaurant,wherehe orderedafewbottlesofsojuforhimselfandmoreshellfishthanthetablecouldfinish,eventhough hedidnteatanythingbutmaybeonebite,onecompanionnoted.Bytheend,hecollecteda confusingtotalof110,000wontopayforeverything50,000fromoneexpat,apersonalfriendof Jeongs,whowasleavingKorealaterthatweek.Jeongpromisedhimthathewouldpayhimback soon,andthefriend,likeeveryone,trustedJeongwithmoney. Indeed,onthistrip,Jeonghad donethemath.Seventythousand won,multipliedbyroughly75 guests,wouldeasilycoverthe approximatelyfivemillionowed tothe minbak ownersandbus drivers.Jeongpersonallywould havewalkedawaywithlittle,if any,extracashforhiswork,a commonsituationforamanwhod oftenpubliclyexpressthathe didntrunLovableBusanforthe money. Backatthepension,someexpats tossedafrisbeeordidyoga stretchesonthebeach.At3:29,

CharlesJeongwithsomeLovableBusanexpatsat2009Mudfest.

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approximately,Imwalkinguptothepension,Mitchellrecalled.Charleswascomingrightoutinto thestreet,awayfromthepension,towardsthemudvenue.Andheseesme,andheslike,Oh,good. Yourehere.Great.Andthenhejustwalkedoff. Threethirtycameandpassed.Jeongbrieflyreappeared,roughly15minuteslater,assuringafew expatsthattheydbeontheroadin10minutes.Heflashedafamiliarapologeticsmile,distinctly tilteduptotheleftasifcaughtbyafishhook,andwalkedaway. Tenminutespassed.Twenty.Thirty. Wesawhimonemoment,recalledSam,aveteranLovableBusanmemberwhoalsowishedto remainanonymous.Andthenthenextmoment,wedidntseehimanymore.Andwhatwentthrough ourmindis,Oh,hemustbetakingcareofsomething.Hellbeback. After4oclock,oneofthebusdrivers,agoodhumoredDaegunative,approachedagroupofexpats. Hewasvisiblyupset,andbeganspeakinginterseKoreantoWesternerswhocouldonlymakeouta fewwords:Money,donthave,friend,where?Thepensionowners,too,suddenlychimed in.Apparently,nobodyhadyettoseeevenathousandwonnotefromJeong. TheexpatstriedtoexplainthatJeongdefinitelyhadtheirmoney.Itwasmandatoryforeveryoneto havetransferredtheir70,000woninadvance.ButtheKoreansmessagewasclear:Yourfriend needstopayus. Mitchellandtwootherexpatsformedasearchparty.Theyspeddownthemainstreetforahalfhour, jumpinginandoutofconveniencestoresandcafes.Butwhentheydoubledbacktothefestival concert,aloudbeachsidepartyswarmingwithhundredsofpeople,theygaveup. TheyreturnedtoanowhystericalpensiongrandmotherscreamingattheonlyKoreangirlonthetrip. Thegrandmotherwouldnotbecalmed.Whenapolicecarcruisedpast,shefuriouslytappedonits window,flaggingitdown.Sheexplainedthesituationtotheofficers,whothenscouredthecity banks,hospitals,roads(Boryeongsonlygot100,000people,theyfiguredhecanthavegonefar) butcameupwithnothing.Supposinghedgonetowithdrawfourmillionincash,theyscanned CCTVtapesnearATMsforanyrecordingofathinKoreanmanwithwispyblackhairandgraying sideburns.Again,nothing.StrangerthanJeongsdisappearancewasthequizzicalfactthatheseemed tosimplyvanishintoether. Thiscantbehappening,Mitchellrecalledthinking.Its Charles Charleswascool,hewasour friend.Despitefriendsprotests,policewroteupthecaseasfraudcommittedagainstforeigners,

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becauseJeong,evenifbycoincidence,hadjustundereightmillionwonoftourgoersmoneywhen hedisappearedroughlyfivemillionfromthemudfestival,andtherestfromadvancepaymentsfor upcomingtripstoSeorakMountainandJejuIsland,accordingtoclaimslaterwrittenonFacebooks LoveableBusanrefundgroup. SamstoodwiththosewhostoodupforJeong.TheyexplainedtopolicethatJeonghad,ifanything, beenlosingmoneyonLovableBusantripsforthepastsixyears,asexpatsdroppedoutlastminute. Herarelymadeanyextra.Forhimtobeaconmanwasinconceivable:Itsnotinhisnaturetodo somethinglikethat,Samlatertoldme.Hesalwaysbeenthere.Yousendhimanemailora message,andhellalwaysrespondtoyou. AstheBoryeongskyblackenedintonight,theexpatsagreedtoeachpayanextra30,000wonforthe busdriverstoreturnthemwithoutJeong,butnotbeforeanhourlongpaperworkstopoverata Boryeongpolicestation.Theyfinallybegantoleavethecityataround8oclock.Despitethepension ownerscreamingtothepolicethattheycantleaveuntilIgetpaid!,sheneverwas. Thebusridehomewaslong,madelongerbyanxietyandbathroombreaksdemandedbythe eveningsheavierdrinkers.Afterahalfhourontheroad,mostexpatshaddozedoff,butMitchell couldntsleep.Jeongsdisappearancewasonmoremindsthananyonespokeof,andaneeriesilence hoveredthem.Thatissostrange,Mitchellmutteredtohimself.Sostrange. IfyouveevermetCharlesJeong,oddsareyoulikedhim.Heisgabbyandgregarious,popular amongexpatsforhisexuberantkindness:heonceinvitedagirltostaywithhimandhisfamilyfor threeweeksbeforesheleftKorea,feedinghereverydayandhelpingherpackthe22boxesshekept intheircrowdedapartment.GregoryReillyremainsgratefultohimfortreatinghisvisitingmotherto ahikeandlunchwhilehewasstuckatwork.Onweekendnights,hecouldoftenbespottedclutching abottleofsojuaroundKyungsungUniversityinhistypicallyKoreanhikingsweatersofazureblue andlimegreen,andifyouapproachedhim,hedprobablyofferyouadrink.Onetourgoerdescribed himasalwayseverywhere,seemstohardlysleep,endlessenergy,generallydrunk. Jeongbegantravelingseriouslyinthelate1980s,whenhevisitedJapanasacollegefreshman.The travelbuggnawedhard,andhejoinedtheranksofKoreasfirstgenerationofglobetrotters,setting footinoveradozendifferentcountries.Bythe1990s,helefthislongtermgirlfriend,Myeongson,to workinHongKong.Shebegantodateanotherman,but,afternearlyayear,gavehimanultimatum: eitherhereturntoKoreaandmarryher,orshedmarrythisotherguy.Heimmediatelyquithisjob theirweddingquicklyfollowed. By2000,hedsettledbackdowninSouthKoreawithMyeongsonandbeganplanningafamily,

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includingtheson,daughterand dogtheywouldsoonraise.His loveofinternationaltravel becamemostlyavicariousone. Hebecameadefactotravel advisor,inspiredbyalife changingtriphedmadethe previousyear,crossingallof Chile,topdown,in20days, aidedbygroundlevelhospitality hedneverbeforewitnessed. Touristsbeganaskinghimfor sightseeingrecommendations, andhebeganintroducingthemto hikesandtemplesoften overlookedintravelguides.It thrilledhimtosharehishome countrywithtravelers,whomhe perhapssawasyoungerversions ofhis37yearoldself.Itsa modestreturnformyoverseas adventuretravels,hewroteon thegroupsFacebookwall. Jeongsuniquelyrustictrips spreadmostlybywordofmouth. CharlesJeongenjoyingsomefestivities. Henevercreatedanofficial websiteorspecialbankaccount (theyalwaysusedMyeongsons),neverregistereditfederallyasanofficialbusiness.Themost concretemanifestationwouldbetheFacebookgrouphecreatedin2006thatwould,overthenext sevenyears,garnermorethan1,000membersatitspeak. By2012,JeongwasorganizingnewFacebookeventsalmosteveryweekend.Thesearetripsthat have,atbest,beendescribedaswildandspontaneousatworst,disorganized,likehiswinter weekendataremoteislandoffofGeojeinearly2012,whereheandthreeotherswounduphavingto eachpayanextra30,000wontobribeafishermantoillegallysailthembacktoshoreacrossstormy watersinhisricketywoodenfishingboatbeforethecoastguardwokeupat6a.m. This,toexpats,iswhatputthelovableinLovableBusan:Jeongembodiedapuresenseof

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adventurelackinginthestalenessofmostorganizedtours.WesitdownwithCharles,especiallysit downwiththatsipof makgeolliorasipofsoju,andlistentowhathehastosay,Samtoldme.Its breathtaking.ItsdifferentfromatypicalKorean. Hisreputationstoodstronguntilhisdisappearance.OnJuly17,twodaysafterthemudfestival,word brokeanddamningallegationsbegantospread.Arumorquicklysurfacedthatpolicehadcaptured himinBusan,whichwasprovenfalse(Busanpolicedidntevenknowyet),andaccusationsoffraud soonfollowed. GeoffsenthimseveralurgentFacebookmessages:Weneedtotalk.Thisisgettingoutofhand.He triedcallingallthenumbersJeonghadgivenhim,butfoundhiscellphonedisconnected.(Indeed, oneofJeongslastFacebookwallposts,writtenJuly2,isaboutlosinghiscellfriendsthought nothingofitatthetimebecauseofhowfrequentlyhewouldloseorbreakphones.Itssortoflikea runningjoke,Mitchellwroteme.)TheSharonMinbakgrandmother,too,hadtriedcallinghishome phone,butnoonepickedup.

Jeong'sLovableBusanona2011trip.

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GeoffwitnessedLovableBusansFacebookpageexplodewitharguments,pleasandcondemnations: Toallofyouwhoarestillputtingyourtrustinhim,goodluck,onememberwrote,butyouve beenwarned. ButGeoffhadspentyearsstudyingandworkingwithcriminaljusticeandfraudcases,andstill refusestobelievethatJeongisadeliberateconman.Hewouldbethedumbestconartistinthe world,hetoldme.Youdonthavesomebodythatintentionallywentouttoscrewus.Itjustwas onethingpiledontopofanother,ontopofanother,andthenthesocialmediajustexpandeditthat muchmore. Online,Jeongslongertermfriendsdefendedhimunflinchingly.Ignorancetrulyscreamswhenthe blindbegintobitch,onewrote,whilemanyothersdisregardedhisaccusersasKoreannewbies. Fewofhisclosefriendswantedtocommentontherecordforthisstory,forfearthatanypublication woulddamagehisreputationonesimplywrotethatCharlesisthepersonthatItrustedthemostin Korea,whileanotherpubliclycalledhimoneofthebestandmostloyalfriendsIvehad. ButJeong,asmuchamanofsecretsasofkindness,hadhitauniquelyturbulentpointinhislife.He confidedtobeinabitofmoneytroubletooneLovableBusanmember,andsaidhehadbeen feelingmoreandmoretiredlately,ostensiblybecauseoftheslowingeconomyandneedtowork longerhours.(FewofJeongsfriendsknowpreciselywhathisdayjobwas,onlythatitinvolved traveling.OrganizingbigmeetingsandsuchinBusanisMitchellsbestguess,whothenadded: whateverthatentails.) ButthepinnacleofJeongsmisfortunewasalmostcertainlyhisrecentcancerscare.Hevisiteda doctoronJune13forthefirsttimeinthreeyears,postingonFacebook,Yuckyendoscopyand4 litersofwaterinthemorningtocheck[unconfirmed]coloncancerandstomachcancerWhowill treatmeabottleofsojutonight Hisdrinkingandhealthissueswereworsening,anothermemberwroteontheFacebookgroups wallinapeaceplea,beforepenningaborderlineconspiracytheory:Didhefallintomoneyproblems andborrowmillionsfromthemob?Otherconcernedfriendspaintedsimilarlyoutlandishscenes: JeongleftfordeadbyamuggerwhoglimpsedhimwithdrawingoverfourmillionfromaBoryeong ATMJeongstruckbyafuguestate,leftwanderingthe250kilometerstretchbacktoBusanina daze.Virtuallyanythingseemedlikelierthanatransparentfamilymanrunningawaywiththe equivalentof6,700Americanbucks.Asonefrienddescribedit,Hesgotnothingtogainand everythingtolose. DanGrayquietlywatchedthemessunfoldfrombehindhiscomputerscreen.Grayisastraight

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talking31yearoldEnglishteacherwithintenseeyesandaneatlytrimmedgoatee,nowintohisthird yearinKorea.HesnevermetJeong,butadvancedhim100,000wonforLovablesChuseok weekendtriptoJejuIsland.Hejoinedroughly40otherexpatsonFacebooksLoveableBusan refundgroup(thenumberwouldeventuallygrowtoover70),typeduphisowingsandwaited. Igotsuspiciousthedayafter[Boryeong],Graytoldmeoverteaonenight.Imean,Imfrom Atlanta,soIknowwhatitslikewhenyougetswindled.Like,somebodypunkedyou,clearly.My thingis,thismanliedtothepensionowners,liedtothebusdriversandthendisappears15minutes later.Thatformesealsthedeal.AfterhittingthesamedeadendstryingtocallandemailJeong, Graydecideditwastimetoinformthepolice. Ontherecommendationofafellowexpat,hephonedupDetectiveOhYounghun,a43yearold homicidedetectivewithabuoyantdispositionandbuddingreputationforhelpingforeigners.They metonahumidThursdayeveningatanAngelinusinSeomyeon.Graypaidforthedrinks,which impressedthedetective,whoimmediatelyflexedhisEnglishmusclesinidlechitchatbeforegetting downtobusinessbusinesswhich,itturnsout,wasntanyofOhsbusinessinthefirstplace.He toldmethatfirstday,Grayrecalled.Hewaslike,Look,thisisntmydepartment.Illhelpyouout asmuchasIcan. DetectiveOhaskedGrayalltheusualquestions:Howmanyvictimswerethere?WhatsJeongsbank accountnumber?Phonenumber?Awellbuilt,cleanlyshavenman,Ohisalsoathoroughcopand patientlistener,andadvisedGrayagainstfilinganyclaimsuntilsomepreliminaryinvestigation happenedfirst.Ohreturnedtohisofficethenextday,madeafewcalls,andthefollowingdaysent Grayalengthyemailgreenlightingtheplan. OntheafternoonofSaturday,August4,ahandfulexpatsmetatBusanStationtofileacollective fraudclaimattheDongbuPoliceStation.Theywereimmediatelydisappointedthatsofewofthe70 memberstrongFacebookgrouphadbotheredtoshowup,andwalkedthroughtheparkinglot securityataround2:30. Theywouldleavefivehourslater. Filingaclaimisanexhaustingprocess.Forforeigners,atleast,itincludesfingerprintscans,repeated interviewsandKoreanlanguagepaperwork(heremultipliedbysevenpeople),allwhilesmiling throughgrittedteethatquestionslikeWhereareyoufrom?andHowdoyoulikeKorea?Atone point,GraygrewsofrustratedwithhowslowtheprocesswasthathecalledDetectiveOh,whowas onvacationvisitinghiswifessisterinSeoulatthetime,tohelptranslate. OnlyoneexpatpresenthadactuallymetJeong.CarolynODonnell,aJinjuresident,hadprintedout pixelatedFacebookphotosofhim,andofferedtologontoastationcomputertodownloadmore.She

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wasanxioustohelpinanywayshecould,becauseshesstillowed200,000wonfromJeongalot ofmoneytosomeonethousandsofdollarsintuitiondebtbackintheUnitedStates(Illbepaying themofffor30years,shesays),andwhosesolereasonformovingtoKoreawassavingmoney. Itwasonlyafterallthepaperworkhadbeenfilledin,theafternoonlongdeadafterfivehours indoors,thattheofficersinformedthegroupthatifJeongeverdoesreappear,thepolicepersonally couldntretrievetheirmoney,andthatKoreanlawdictatespeopleintheirsituationtosuethe accusedinacriminalcourttolegallyreceivetheirdues.Itwouldprobablytakemonths. Grayblinked. Ididntevenfollowupwiththem,helatertoldmeinthecafe.Assoonaseveryonewalkedoutof thebuilding,hesaid,Wejustkindoflookedateachother,like,Man,allright.Wedidit, yknow?Atthispoint,unlessthepoliceaskmeformorecooperation,Imnotgonnadoanything else.Hethrewuphisarmsbehindhisheadandleanedback,exhaustedbythethoughtofitalone. Imdone. DetectiveOhYounghundoesntnormallydealwithwhitecollarcrime.Infact,hedoesnt particularlylikeit.Ifyouaskhim,helltellyouthatcaseslikethisaretoocomplicated,obscuredby toomanytruths.Bluecollarstuff,inhiswords,iseasy:blackandwhite,goodversusevil.He stoppedworkingthewhitecollardivisionyearsago,whenhemovedtothekindofcaseshewas dealingwithbeforeCharlesJeongenteredhislife:acomplexmultiplehomicideinvolvingataxi driverwhodonlyrecentlyconfessedtomurdersdatingbackfiveyears.Goodversusevil.As DetectiveOhdescribesthebreadthofit,aproudsmileleapsoutfromhisface,asifheweretellinga fascinatingdinnerpartystory. The12yeardetective,leaderofafivemanpoliceteam,spendsmostofhisdaysonthefirstfloorof thearchitecturallydepressingredbrickGeumjeongpoliceheadquarters,ablockeastofthemurky brownOncheonjangRiverinBusansnorthernmostdistrict.Hewassittingattheheadofhisteams rectangulargreendeskinthedetectivesabsurdlyoverairconditionedofficewhenDanGrayfirst calledhim. DetectiveOhdoesntknowwhyhespecificallywasrecommended,buthedoesremembertheexpats heshelpedamanwhosescooterwasstoleninGeumjeongguseveralmonthsago,awomanwho lostherpassportafterthat.Ohmadecleartothem,ashedidtome,thathefeelsshamefulwhenhis countryimpressespoorlyuponforeigners,andinterpretshisjobasacrossbetweenpolicemanand ambassador.

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SoDetectiveOhwaseagertomeetwith GrayinSeomyeononJuly26,sitting downwithapenandnotepad.Alaw schoolgraduate,Ohimmediately suspectedJeongasabadguy,but knewthattheydneedactualresearch beforereachingaverdict. HebeganthenextdaybycallingOfficer JoHoyeonoftheBoryeongPolice Department,whohadbeeninvestigating Jeongonbehalfofthepension grandmotherandbusdriverssinceJuly 15.AsJobeganfiringoffthedetails, DetectiveOhgrabbedanearbythick blackpenandbeganquicklyscribbling thefactsonasheetofblankwhitepaper. Jeong,itturnsout,hadbeeninvestigated bypolicetwicebefore:onceinJinhae,in 2008,andonceinBoryeongduring September2011,underhisKoreanbirth name,JeongChangil.Theparticular ByR.M.Adamson. detailsofeithercasecannotberevealed underKoreanprivacylaws,butOh stressedthatbothinvolvedchargesofswindlingsimilartowhathesbeenaccusedofthisyear, addingthathesbeenlegallywantedbypoliceinBoryeongsince2011.OhrequestedthatJeongs namebemadeaspublicaspossible,topreventfurtherswindles. JeongalsoraisedeyebrowsforneverholdinglegalresidenceinBusan.Theapartmentexpatsknew ashistowhichheofteninvitedthemtomakekimchi,eatdinnerorevenliveforthreeweeksis legallyregisteredunderhiswifesname.JeongisproperlyacitizenofJinhaegu,acoastaldistrictof westerncityneighborChangwon,knownforitscherryblossomfestivaleachApril.Betweenhis misleadingleaseandthefactthatforeignersalwayspaidLovableBusanfeestoMyeongsonsbank account,Jeonghas,perhapsbyaccident,madehimselfextremelydifficultforofficialstolocate. DetectiveOhcalledKoreasimmigrationofficetoconfirmthathehasntleftthecountrybeyond that,hecouldbeanywhereinKorea. Ohsharedallthiswithmeinacolorfulcoffeeshopacrossthestreetfromhisoffice.WhenIasked himwhyhethoughtJeongwouldhavekeptahighprofileinBusanfor10monthsafterbeing

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pursuedinBoryeonglastSeptember,hepaused,hissearchingeyesflickeringbackandforth,asif followingarowofcars.Idontknow,hesaid,reanimatingwithasmalllaughandaspoonfulof greentea bingsu .Afterwearresthim,wewillaskhim. Onalatesummerday,DetectiveSongChangeuninJinhaeknockedonthedoorhebelievedJeong Changilwasbehind.Changilsfatheranswered.SongwithdrewhisbadgeandaskedifChangilstill livedthere,andthefather,perhapstakenaback,informedthedetectivethathehadntspokentohis soninalongtime,andthathelivedalone.ThatresidenceistheonlylegalrecordofwhereJeong mighthavebeenwhenJeongsfatheropenedthedoor,alargeroneclosed. FromSeptemberuntilJanuary2013,inaseparateandmuchlargerpoliticalmove,allKoreanpolice departmentshavebeeninstructedtocrackdownonthefederalwantedlist.Thisincludesfinding Jeong,eventhoughtherelativelysmallsumthatearnedhimaspotonthelistprobablyalsokeeps himnearitsbottom.DetectiveOhestimatesthereisa5050chanceJeongwillfacejailtimeif captureddependingonhisstory,hemayonlybefinedthreeorfourmillionwon. ThelargestunknownpieceinallthisisJeongswife,Myeongson.VirtuallynoexpatshaveJeongs homephonenumber,andDetectiveOhhasdecidedlynotcontactedher,worriedthatshewould claimignoranceandrunawayherselftojoinherhusbandinanothercity. InmidSeptember,OhandhispartnerdrovedowntovisitMyeongsonshome.Afterpullingintothe darkparkinglotofthetoweringapartmentcomplexesinJuryedong,Ohspokewithbothbuilding securityguards.HewithdrewaprintedoutblackandwhitephotographofJeongandMyeongsonin eveningwear,smilinganddrinkingwine.Theylookcompletelyhappy.Thesecurityguards confirmedthatJeongusedtooftenvisitfourorfivetimesaweek,buttheyhadntseenhiminovera month.JeongsfriendGregoryReillylaterwrotetome,Imprettysurehesgoneforgood. Then,onSeptember3,afemaleEnglishteacherwaswalkingnearDongnaesmainintersectionand suddenlyfroze.Improbably,therehewas:thinframed,cladinhikinggearandabackpack,waiting foraneastboundbusamongstacrowdofolderKoreanmen.Hewasntwearinghisglasses,which madeherdoadoubletake.Shelaterwrotethatshes99percentsureitwasCharlesJeong.Shed onlymethimonceortwice,though,anddidntknowaboutthepoliceinvestigation,ortheexpats moneyproblems.WhenOhfoundoutdayslater,hewasdisappointed:Wecouldhavearrestedthe guy,ifshehadcalledtothepolice.Butinsteadshekepthermouthshutandwalkedaway,leaving Jeongtoglanceupattheapproachingbus,stepinsideanddisappearintothenight. ________________________________________________

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MichaelFraimanisaCanadianbornfreelancejournalist, photographerandEnglishteacherinBusan.Hisworkhas appearedonthefrontpagesoftheNationalPostinCanadaand variouslocalCanadianpublicationsyouwouldntknowthename of.HescurrentlyBusanHapscopyeditorandhasbeengranted theraretitleofSupremeContributoratBusanAwesome.Hecan bereachedviahisblog:mfraiman.wordpress.com PrintThisPost

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TheDisappearanceofCharlesJeong|MichaelFraiman Says:
October 22nd, 2012at10:42pm

[...]WithoutquestionthemostcomprehensivereportingIvedone.CheckoutthefullstoryonTheThreeWise Monkeys,theonlyEnglishlanguagemagazineinKoreadevotedtocriticallongformjournalism.Like[...] 2.

BobbyMcGill Says:
October 23rd, 2012 at2:08pm

Nicepieceofwritingthereandverywellresearched.HaveknownCharlescasuallyforyearsandwillbecurioustosee wherethisallendsup. 3.

Neil Says:
October 25th, 2012 at1:53pm

IwaslivinginKoreain2007andCharleswasoneofthekindest,mostgenuineKoreansImetinallmytimethere.Iwent onatleasthalfadozentripswithhimanddozensofotherexpats,experiencingnothingbutgoodtimesandanexcessof soju.Imsaddenedbythisnewsandhopeforapositiveoutcome.Asasidenote,thiswasaverywellwrittenarticleandam impressedwithbothitsthoroughnessandthoughtfullness. 4.

EddieCantorSays:
October 27th, 2012 at9:11am

Thelongtermexpatswhowontadmitthattheyvebeendefraudedareinthatgroupofknowitallsthatareusuallythe easiesttodefraudbecauseoftheirarrogance. Asforthosewithnopatienceinthelegalprocess,well,guesswhat,welcometoreality.Thecriminalandcivilprocessesdo takealongtime,andyoudoendupfilingthesamereportsoverandover,andyoudohavetogivetimewhenitis inconvenient.Thatstrueanywhereintheworld.ThoseofuswhovefiledagainstourschoolsinKoreaknowthatittakesa longtimetogetbackwhatisowedtoyou,ifyougetitatall.Butfollowingup,legally,istherightthingtodoanditsthe

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Into Thin Korean Air: The Disappearance of Mr. Jeong The Three Wise Monkeys Magazine Archive

adultthingtodo,andithelpstomakesurethatotherexpatsdontgetcheatedbythesamepeople. Thosewhohavebeendefraudedandarenowrefusingtotakepartinthelegalprocessareonlymakingthingsharderfor expatsandarepartoftheproblemoflivinginKorea.CriminalsinKoreatakeadvantageofexpatslargelybecausesomany expatswillnotbothertofollowupbecauseitsinconvenientandtheycametoKoreajusttoparty,watchSimonand Martinavideosaboutcatcafes,andtakepicsofSeoulTowerfortheirblogs.Well,thatkindofthinkingiswhatsetsus backtosquareone.Asexpatswedohavelegalrightsandwecanfileagainstthosewhohavestolenfromus.TheKorean policedowanttohelptrackthosescumbagsdownandthecourtsdohaveremediesthatareroughlythesameasthosein mostwesternnationscivilremedies.Butwheneversomeexpatswhineabouthowharditistofileagainstsomeonewho cheatedthem,andtheyendupdoingnothing,thatmeansonemorelyingcheatergetsawaywithitbydefault.Dont complainaboutKoreanscheatingexpatsifyouhaveagoldenopportunitytonailoneofthelyingscumbags,legally,and youdontbothertofileagainstthem.

thethreewisemonkeys.com/2012/10/20/the-disappearance-of-mr-jeong/

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