Police on Sunday continued the search for a 5-year-old girl who went missing in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, nearly a month ago. 


The North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency on Sunday dispatched 180 police officers, four search dogs and a helicopter to find the girl, Ko Jun-hee, who suffers a developmental disorder. Authorities released some 4,000 leaflets in public places. Fire authorities also sent 25 officials in search of the missing child.

The girl disappeared from her home in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, on Nov. 18, where she had been left unattended by her grandmother.

The grandmother said the girl was gone when she returned home.

Ko’s mother did not report her missing until Dec. 8 -- 21 days after Ko’s disappearance -- believing the child was with her father.

Ko had been living with her mother since her parents separated.

Police searched the homes of the grandmother and Ko’s father and looked at available CCTV footage nearby, but have so far failed to find any trace of the child.

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)