50-Year-Old Missing from Gangneung 2 Years Ago Found Dead on Japanese Coast

Found on a Japanese island 420km from Gangneung
Bereaved family expresses gratitude to citizens who helped with the search

The body of a woman in her 50s who went missing in Gangneung two years ago was found on a Japanese island about 420 km away from the place where she disappeared.

Search efforts at the time of disappearance [Photo by Donghae Maritime Police Station]

According to the Donghae Coast Guard on the 20th, the body of Ms. A, a woman in her 50s who fell and went missing at Solbaram Bridge in Namhangjin, Gangneung in July 2021, was recently discovered on Okinoshima Island in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, approximately 420 km in a straight line from Namhangjin.

At the time of her disappearance, the police and fire authorities conducted search operations using helicopters and coastal rescue boats, and Ms. A’s son posted on social media asking for help in finding his mother, but she was not found.

Then, in April, the Japanese police reported that an unidentified deceased body was found on Okinoshima Island and requested DNA comparison for identification. After analyzing DNA and dental structures, the Donghae Coast Guard confirmed that it matched Ms. A.

Earlier this month, the Donghae Coast Guard informed the bereaved family of Ms. A’s death, and the family reportedly cremated her body in Japan on the 12th and held a funeral in Korea.

A's son’s post on a community in Gangneung [Photo by Facebook]

Afterwards, Ms. A’s son posted on a Gangneung community, saying, "My mother was found on a Japanese island and after a long time, she has returned to Korea today," adding, "Although she stayed in a very cold and dark place for a long time, thanks to the citizens of Gangneung who read and helped with the appeal in the past, she must have felt some warmth, even if only briefly."

He continued, "Thanks to everyone’s prayers, it seems like a miracle that I was able to see my mother again," and expressed his gratitude once again.

A citizen who participated in the search at the time commented, "When I told my husband the news, he said it was a relief," and "I pray for peace for the deceased and her family."

Other citizens also wished for the deceased’s happiness, saying, "Your mother must be proud to have such a wonderful son," and "I hope you will be happy from now on," offering their condolences.

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