The body of an 11-year-old boy who went missing from a national park in South Korea's North Gyeongsang province over the weekend was discovered on Tuesday, authorities confirmed. The boy vanished during a family visit to Juwangsan National Park, and police believe he died after falling from a mountain peak.
Discovery and Search Efforts
The boy's remains were found approximately 100 metres from the summit following a three-day search operation involving more than 350 personnel. The sixth-grade student had travelled with his parents from their home in Daegu on 10 May to visit Daejeonsa, a Buddhist temple within the park. Around midday, he informed his parents he wanted to climb a bit further up the mountain and set off alone towards the peak. He was not carrying a mobile phone.
The hiking route from Daejeonsa to the top of Juwangsan mountain, which stands at 720 metres, spans 2-3 kilometres and typically takes an adult about 80 minutes each way. When the boy failed to return, his parents alerted local authorities and reported him missing later that day.
Details of the Incident
He was reportedly wearing a Samsung Lions baseball uniform when he ascended the mountain. His parents told a local news outlet: "We hiked here about a year ago as well, but he felt tired and had to come down before reaching the top. On the day he went missing, he said, 'I will just go up a little and then come back.'"
Authorities suspect the boy died after slipping and falling on the mountain, according to Yonhap. An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the incident.
Previous Similar Incident
In September last year, a hiker in his 60s went missing on Mount Seorak in Gangwon near Gongryong Ridge. He was found dead two days later.
