Man in His 30s Dramatically Rescued After Five Days Lost on Mudeungsan... "Survived on Two Bottles of Water"

Left Home Saying "Going to Exercise," Then Lost Contact Without a Phone
Precious Life Saved After Persistent Police and Fire Department Joint Search

It was belatedly revealed that a man in his 30s, who went missing on Mudeungsan after leaving home saying he was going to exercise, was dramatically found alive after five days, thanks to the persistent search efforts of the police.

According to Gwangju Seobu Police Station on May 10, an urgent missing person report was received at 11:13 p.m. on April 27, stating, "My son went out to exercise but has not returned." The missing person, Mr. A (in his 30s), had left home around 10 a.m. that day and, unlike usual, left his mobile phone at home, making it impossible for his family to contact him.

Front view of Gwangju Western Police Station.

The police immediately began analyzing nearby CCTV footage. The missing persons team captured footage of Mr. A traveling alone with a backpack and, using public transportation operation information systems, retraced his complex movements. As a result, they confirmed that Mr. A left his residence in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, transferred between taxi and subway, and arrived at the Jeungsimsa terminal on Mudeungsan, where he entered the hiking trail toward Saeinbong.

Believing there was a high probability of a mountain accident, the police launched a large-scale search operation. The search team included the missing persons units from Seobu and Dongbu Police Stations, a multi-purpose mobile unit, one drone, and two fire department search dogs. Despite the rugged terrain and vast search area making the operation challenging, the team persevered and gradually narrowed down the expected route of movement.

On the fifth day of the search, at around 2:40 p.m. on May 1, the team, conducting a thorough search near Saeinbong on Mudeungsan, finally discovered Mr. A collapsed in a pit near the trail. At the time of discovery, Mr. A had survived five days with only two bottles of water, exhibiting severe exhaustion and dehydration, and was in a semi-conscious state. He was urgently transported to the hospital by fire authorities and is now reported to be recovering after passing the critical stage.

The investigation found that Mr. A, who had not been in good health, became stranded after a sudden loss of strength during the hike. Because he was in a remote area, he was unable to call for help and became isolated.

Lee Youngdae, head of the missing persons team at Gwangju Seobu Police Station, said, "The absence of a mobile phone made it very difficult to locate the missing person, but through close cooperation with related agencies and persistent pursuit, we were able to save a precious life. The police will continue to prioritize the protection of citizens' lives and safety, and will further strengthen our on-site response capabilities."

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