Reward offered in search for woman missing for six years

Missing woman Yoon Sook Chun. Photo / Supplied

A $30,000 reward has been posted to help find a Canterbury woman missing for six years.

Yoon Sook Chun, 47, was last seen on May 18, 2009, shortly before she left her Aidanfield, Christchurch, home.

She spoke briefly to her her son and daughter around 6am, and left alone through the front door. She has not been seen since, police said, but an email to her family said she was going to visit Auckland for a break.

"Canterbury Police are reviewing the disappearance of Mrs Chun who has not been seen or heard from since May 2009," Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti said.

"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."

Mrs Chun held both a New Zealand and a South Korean passport when she went missing, but neither had been used to travel out of the country since her disappearance, Mr Tarawhiti said.

A reward of up to $30,000 would be paid for material information or evidence that establishes the location of Mrs Chun, and/or her body, and leads to the conviction of any person or persons responsible for her disappearance or death, Mr Tarawhiti said.

Rewards are not offered by police very often, but "in this instance we hope that by offering a reward it will provide an incentive to someone who hasn't already spoken to Canterbury Police to come forward", he said.

"Mrs Chun was last seen six years ago and over that time it is also possible that loyalties will have changed, or someone who hoped she would be found without them getting involved will step up and contact police.

"We urge anyone who knows anything and hasn't spoken to police before to come forward, so that police can decide whether the information is of importance to the investigation or not.

"If you are Mrs Chun please contact police."

The offer would stay in place until October 1.

• Anyone with any information on where Mrs Chun is or other information that could assist with locating her is asked to contact Canterbury Police on 03 363 7400 or visit their nearest police station.