The sixth-grader from Daegu had joined his parents at Juwangsan National Park on Sunday afternoon, May 10. After exploring a Buddhist temple nestled in the mountains, the boy described as slim, about 145 cm tall, and wearing a Samsung Lions baseball uniform told his family around noon, “I’ll just go up a bit and come back.” He never returned.
His worried parents reported him missing by late afternoon. Rescue teams, including police and firefighters, mobilized immediately, scaling up efforts with more than 350 personnel, search dogs, and drones over the rugged 720-meter peak terrain.
On Tuesday morning, May 12, a police commando unit located the boy’s body approximately 100 meters from the summit, near hiking trails. Officials believe he lost his footing and fell, with no signs of foul play according to surveillance footage.
This devastating incident highlights the hidden dangers even on familiar trails and the critical importance of never hiking alone, especially for young children. Local authorities are reviewing safety measures around popular family destinations as the community mourns the young life cut short.