The blue-and-yellow banners across South Korea featured a 17-year-old girl, Song Hye-hee, whose disappearance in 1999 has haunted her family for over two decades. The banners, which read “Please help me find Song Hye-hee!” reflect the enduring hope of her father, Song Gil-yong, who dedicated his life to searching for her.
After Hye-hee vanished on a winter night, her father traveled the country, putting up and replacing banners despite the personal toll it took on him. His wife tragically took her own life, and his relationship with his eldest daughter deteriorated as he poured his resources into the search.
Hye-hee, a sophomore at Songtan Girls’ High School, was last seen boarding a bus home on February 13, 1999. The bus driver reported she got off at the last stop with a man who appeared intoxicated. Initially, police classified her as a runaway due to existing laws, which only recognized children under eight as missing.
As the search intensified, Mr. Song and his wife sold their dog-breeding business and spent their savings on banners and flyers. They lived frugally, relying on inexpensive food and drinks while distributing flyers nationwide.
Mr. Song’s wife eventually succumbed to the emotional burden of the search, leading to her suicide. This tragedy pushed Mr. Song to contemplate ending his own life, but he found support in his surviving daughter, Eun-ju.
Despite the hardships, Mr. Song continued his campaign alone after his wife’s death, often traveling to remote areas to distribute flyers. He funded his efforts through construction work and selling recyclable materials, all while grappling with physical ailments from his relentless pursuit.
Over the years, Mr. Song received numerous tips from strangers claiming to have seen Hye-hee, but these leads often proved unfruitful. The statute of limitations for prosecuting suspects in her case expired in 2014, adding to his despair.
His quest for Hye-hee strained his relationship with Eun-ju, who struggled with the public attention and ultimately took steps to distance herself from her father's obsession. In 2022, the family faced another tragedy with the suicide of Mr. Song’s granddaughter.
Despite the mounting challenges, Mr. Song remained committed to his search, claiming he felt happiest when distributing flyers and hanging banners. However, his health deteriorated, and he was hospitalized in August 2023.
On August 26, Mr. Song suffered a heart attack while driving and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at the age of 71. Following his passing, the banners that once filled the landscape have largely disappeared, but a close friend vowed to continue the search for Hye-hee in honor of Mr. Song’s dedication.