A tragic accident occurred during so-called "car camping," where people sleep in their vehicles, on the slopes of a mountain in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. On November 18, Yonhap News reported, citing the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters, that a man and a woman, both believed to be in their 60s, were found dead inside a vehicle connected to a car camping tent. The accident occurred at approximately 2:36 p.m. on the same day, when the two were discovered lifeless inside their car, which was parked at the entrance parking lot of the Yuilsa Temple trail in Taebaeksan National Park, Mungok-Sodo-dong, Taebaek City.

On the 18th, a paramedic checked a vehicle at the parking lot of Yuilsa Temple in Taebaeksan National Park. Gangwon Fire Headquarters

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The vehicle involved in the accident was a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a tent attached for car camping. A passerby noticed something unusual, reporting that "the vehicle's engine kept running, but there was no movement inside," and alerted authorities. Emergency responders from the Taebaek Fire Station rushed to the scene, removed the tent, and checked the inside of the vehicle, where they found both individuals already in a state of rigor mortis. Paramedics immediately attempted emergency treatment, but both had already passed away.

At the scene, it was confirmed that an oil heater was operating inside the vehicle. The windows were closed, and the tent was tightly sealed to the vehicle. Emergency responders handed the case over to the police. Medical consultation from Professor Seo at Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital strongly suspected carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death. The police are investigating the exact circumstances and cause of death, as well as whether there were issues with the use of the vehicle's heater or the tent's structure.

As car camping and winter camping become more popular during the colder months, accidents involving oxygen deficiency and carbon monoxide poisoning while using heating devices are repeatedly occurring. Carbon monoxide, known as the "silent killer," is a gas produced by incomplete combustion. Because it is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and non-irritating, it is difficult for people to detect even when concentrations rise. At concentrations of 2,000 ppm, it can cause unconsciousness and lead to death within one to two hours.

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When a kerosene stove, commonly used to raise the temperature inside a tent during winter camping, was operated in a sealed tent, carbon monoxide levels reached 43 ppm in just 35 minutes. After 50 minutes, the oxygen concentration dropped to 14.7%. Normally, the oxygen concentration in air is about 21%. If this level falls below 16%, breathing and heart rate increase, and symptoms such as headache and nausea can occur. In particular, diesel heaters, which are frequently used during car camping, can also be dangerous in enclosed spaces, so extreme caution is required when using them.