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Body of missing man believed found: police

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NNSL file photo Junghwan (David) Park, an employee at The Rooster, has been missing since April 3.

The body of a man believed to be that of missing Hay River resident Junghwan (David) Park has been located near the community, RCMP stated Monday.

A Hay River resident discovered a deceased male April 22 after noticing an “unusual formation” in the snow, leading police to investigate by snowmobile, a news release from Hay River RCMP stated.

Police say a resident of Hay River has found what is believed to be the body of Junghwan (David) Park, missing since April 3. NNSL file photo

Sgt. Brandon Humbke told the Hay River Hub the resident had seen “something that didn’t fit right in the snow, so that’s why he stopped and looked at it.”

The discovery ends an exhaustive weeks-long search effort for the 34-year-old, who was last seen at the Rooster gas bar – where he worked – on April 3.

He was reported missing a day later by co-workers, prompting a string of searches carried out by RCMP and community volunteers in Hay River and the surrounding area.

Humbke told The Hub police won’t yet be releasing the location of where the body was found, or whether or not foul play is suspected.

“We’re still conducting our investigation … it’s ongoing at this time,” said Humbke.

In an online post published Monday afternoon, employees operating the Rooster's Facebook page said RCMP had informed them Park's body was found in the Enterprise area.

"We are sad to share the news that he couldn't come home alive," the post read.

"RCMP will investigate further for reason of death. Thank you each and every one of you for praying for David … Thanks for your concern and support (in) searching for David," the Facebook post stated.

Friends and co-workers of Park regularly took to social media during the search to offer updates and spread word of his disappearance.

The search for Park had expanded in recent days, with RCMP acting on the possibility he had travelled to Alberta. Police named Grande Prairie and nearby Clairmont, Alta., as possible destinations.

In Monday’s news release, RCMP media spokesperson Marie York-Condon stated, “we are working with the NWT Coroner Service to continue the investigation.

“We thank everyone, the co-workers, the community of Hay River, the neighbouring police jurisdictions, and the public in general for their concern and search efforts," she wrote.

Law enforcement and the Hay River Fire Department, along with friends and co-workers of Park, participated in an on-foot and in-air search of wooded areas in and around Hay River, with a final six-hour aerial search conducted via helicopter on April 12.

RCMP have also been working with the Korean consulate where Park is originally from, the news release stated.

The NWT Coroner Service has ordered a post-mortem autopsy, police said Monday.