A banner seeking missing Song Hye-hee is displayed on a sidewalk near Mount Nam in Seoul, Oct. 10, 2023. Korea Times photo by Lee Young-chang

Song Gil-yong, 71, who had tirelessly searched for his missing daughter, Hye-hee, for more than 25 years by putting up banners all over the country, has passed away without ever finding her.

Song died in a car accident on Monday, colliding with a truck coming from the opposite direction. His daughter went missing 25 years and six months ago.

Song's daughter, Hye-hee, was 17 years old when she disappeared on Feb. 13, 1999, after getting off a bus near their home in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

The police considered the possibility of abduction and other crimes, but no trace of her was ever found. After her disappearance, Song devoted his life to searching for her, putting up banners across the country and inquiring at various child protection facilities.

Following their daughter's disappearance, Song's wife fell into depression and ultimately took her own life.

In a 2020 media interview, Song said, "After my wife passed away, I gave up the thought of dying and focused solely on finding Hye-hee. I can't forget her, no matter how hard I try. If I don't see Hye-hee while I'm alive, I won't be able to move on even in death. I will search for her, even as a ghost."

Song's health had deteriorated recently. Na Ju-bong, the chairman of the National Association for Missing Children and Families, who has known Song for 20 years, recalled him as a man who showed what parental love truly is.

"Song always used to say, ‘If I die first, please make sure to find Hye-hee.' It is heartbreaking to see him leave this world without knowing his daughter's fate," Na said.

The late Song Gil-yong who spent 25 years searching for his missing daughter / Yonhap

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.