"Life Is Hard" North Korean Defector in His 60s Who Lived Alone for Over 10 Years Found Dead

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A 60-year-old Saeteomin who lived alone for over 10 years after defecting from North Korea was found dead in the mountains, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to Daegu Suseong Police Station on the 20th, at around 10:20 a.m. on the 17th, a rescue dog from the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters discovered Saeteomin A (62) deceased near a ridge close to a communal cemetery in Suseong-gu.

It was confirmed that Mr. A had cut off contact with acquaintances since the 14th and left a note saying "Life is hard."

Mr. A, who defected alone in 2008, was known to have lived alone in a rental apartment without any particular occupation.

The police plan to determine the exact cause of death through an autopsy and other investigations.

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