"Alone on Juwangsan, He Never Came Back"

11-Year-Old Elementary Student Found Dead After Three Days
Nationwide Search Ends in Tragic Loss

The local community has been left in deep shock after an elementary school student who went missing in Juwangsan National Park in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was found dead after three days. The nationwide hope for the safe return of the young student has sadly ended in tragic news.

Found near a cliff close to Jubong; Tragic news after a large-scale search lasting three days
Photo by Byunggun Kwon

According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency and fire authorities, Kang (age 11), a sixth-grade elementary school student who visited Juwangsan with his family on the 10th, was found dead on the morning of the 12th near a cliff at the lower area of Jubong, the main peak of Juwangsan.

The location where he was found is a steep slope about 500 meters from the main peak, and it is reported that the police special forces discovered him during the search operation.

Kang was reportedly still wearing the Samsung Lions baseball uniform and cap that he had on at the time of his disappearance. Police have so far found no evidence of external criminal involvement and are focusing on the possibility that he slipped while hiking, while continuing to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident.

On the morning of the 10th, after visiting Daejeonsa Temple in Juwangsan National Park with his family, Kang set out alone toward the main peak and lost contact. It was determined that at the time, he had entrusted his mobile phone to his parents and carried only a bottle of water when entering the mountain.

After their son failed to return past the expected time, his parents reported him missing to emergency services at 5:53 p.m. the same day. Police, fire authorities, the Korea National Park Service, and Cheongsong County immediately launched a large-scale search operation.

The search was, in effect, an all-out effort. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and rescue dogs were deployed even at night. On the third day, May 12, a total of 347 personnel, three helicopters, 16 rescue dogs, and 58 pieces of equipment were mobilized. However, the search was hampered by Juwangsan’s rugged rocky terrain, dense vegetation, and steep cliffs.

In particular, difficulties were compounded by the absence of Kang’s mobile phone at the scene and the lack of crucial clues to determine his movement, making it extremely challenging to narrow the search area.

Gyeongsangbuk-do firefighters are conducting a search operation. Photo by Gyeongsangbuk-do Fire Headquarters

This incident has evoked nationwide sorrow, far beyond a simple missing persons case. Online, messages of support and prayers such as "Please come back safely" poured in, and President Lee Jaemyung gave an emergency order at a Cabinet meeting to "mobilize all available personnel for the search."

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, also appealed via his personal social media account, asking authorities to do their utmost "with the heart of searching for one's own child," but the long-awaited miracle did not occur.

The local community is in mourning over the tragic loss of a young life. Calls are growing to strengthen the national park safety management system and raise awareness about minors undertaking hikes alone in the wake of this accident.

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