New Zealand Police offer reward in search for missing Korean woman

The New Zealand Police took the unusual step Thursday of offering a substantial reward for information leading to the location of a Korean woman who vanished six years ago.

Yoon Sook Chun, a mother of two, held both New Zealand and Republic of Korea passports when she was last seen in the South Island city of Christchurch on May 18, 2009, Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti said in a statement.

"She was officially reported missing by a family member in December 2009. We are hopeful that someone could hold some key information that can help solve this mystery," said Tarawhiti.

The reward of up to 30,000 NZ dollars (20,220 U.S. dollars) would be paid for material information or evidence that established the location of Chun or her body, and led to the conviction of anyone responsible for her disappearance or death.

Chun, who was 47 when she went missing from her home in Christchurch, had used neither of her two passports to leave the country.

She had spoken to her son and daughter before leaving the family home and told them in an e-mail that she was travelling to Auckland for a break.

Tarawhiti said Police rewards were not offered very often, but they were hoping it would encourage someone to come forward if they had not previously spoken to police investigators.

The reward offer would remain in force until Oct. 1. Endi