▲ The Nambu Regional Resource Recovery Center in Incheon, where parts of a body were discovered.
Police have been investigating for five days following the discovery of body parts at a public recycling facility in Incheon, but they are facing difficulties in identifying the victim.
The identity of the body, which was discovered at the Nambu Regional Resource Recovery Center in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, at approximately 2:28 p.m. on June 10, remains unknown.
The body part, discovered by a center employee during the preliminary sorting process of recyclables, was a portion of a left leg that had been wrapped in bandages.
The physical measurements released by the police are a foot size of 210 mm and a length of 41 cm from just below the knee to the heel.
The police explained that these measurements were taken on the day the body was found and that there may be discrepancies from the victim's size while alive due to the body having been severed and dried.
The National Forensic Service is currently conducting a detailed analysis to determine specific information, including the gender of the victim.
Based on the physical measurements, police initially considered the possibility that the victim could be a young student or a woman. They checked all elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as special education schools in Incheon, for students with unexcused or long-term absences, but no unusual findings were reported.
It has been reported that there were no matches when the DNA obtained from the body was compared with the DNA of previously reported missing persons.
The police, who have set up an investigation headquarters with approximately 60 personnel, are currently tracking the collection routes of transport vehicles, as the mutilated body was mixed in with recyclables brought to the center.
The center begins receiving recyclables at 4:00 a.m. and processes the entire daily volume by sorting items such as glass bottles, cans, and plastics starting at 9:00 a.m.
On the day the body was discovered, a total of approximately 35 tons of recyclables were delivered to the center across 34 separate shipments. The police have secured dashcam footage and driving records from eight transport companies and are meticulously checking the areas where the items were collected.
However, due to the vastness of the target areas, it is expected to take a considerable amount of time to confirm the time and location where the body was abandoned.
Previously, the National Forensic Service provided a preliminary verbal opinion to the police stating that "the age or gender of the body cannot be confirmed," and it is understood that it typically takes two to three weeks for the results of a detailed forensic analysis to be released.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.