A Thai Couple Returns to Their Hometown as Ashes After Using Firewood to Save Heating Costs

Tragic Death from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Most of the Money Sent Back to Hometown
Found Embracing Each Other at the Time of Discovery

A Thai couple who died from carbon monoxide poisoning after lighting charcoal in their room to save on heating costs and falling asleep were cremated and their ashes returned to their family in their hometown. It was confirmed that the couple entered the country on tourist visas, stayed illegally, and supported their family by doing farm labor.

On the 27th, the Gochang Police Station in Jeonbuk announced, as reported by Yonhap News on the same day, that the Thai couple, Mr. A (55) and his wife Mrs. B (57), who were found dead on the afternoon of the 23rd in a detached house in Heungdeok-myeon, Gochang-gun, are scheduled to be cremated soon.

House in Gochang-gun Where Thai Couple Was Found Dead
Photo by Yonhap News

The police responded to a report from a neighbor saying "Mr. A and his wife are missing" and found the couple collapsed in the master bedroom. At the time of discovery, the two were reportedly embracing each other. Inside the room, there was a metal container used as a brazier filled with charcoal, and all the windows were closed. The boiler was broken.

Mr. A's family in Thailand could not come to Korea due to financial difficulties. A police official said, "After consulting with Thai diplomatic officials, the bereaved family requested cremation, so it was decided to proceed accordingly."

About 10 years ago, dreaming of the "Korean Dream," Mr. A and his wife entered Korea on tourist visas and settled in Gochang-gun, earning 120,000 to 130,000 won per day doing fieldwork and other labor.

It was found that most of the money the couple saved while staying illegally was sent to their family back home. The couple rented an old house for 300,000 won per year. Residents unanimously said, "Although the couple lived a hard life, they were diligent and had a good relationship."

At the time the bodies were found, there were burnt firewood and a brazier in the room, and the blood carbon monoxide concentration in the bodies was over 40%. Residents said, "When the couple ran out of heating oil recently, they had been sleeping in a vinyl greenhouse right next to the house."

The police concluded that Mr. A and his wife suffocated to death from carbon monoxide poisoning after lighting a fire in a sealed room to escape the severe cold. The lowest temperature in Gochang-gun on the estimated day of their death, the 22nd, was -6.5 degrees Celsius, and the lowest temperature on the 23rd, when the bodies were found, was -2.6 degrees Celsius.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.