Man in his 70s dies after 40-metre fall at Gangwon mountain viewpoint
In short
A man in his 70s died after falling about 40 metres while taking photographs near Geumgangsan Seongindae in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, on the afternoon of Oct 3. A report of the fall was received at about 17:09, and the man was airlifted in cardiac arrest to a hospital in Sokcho, where he died, according to Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo. Police are investigating the circumstances; Yonhap reported the man was 71 and hiking alone.
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A man in his 70s died after falling about 40 metres near Geumgangsan Seongindae in Wonam-ri, Toseong-myeon, Goseong County, Gangwon Province, according to Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo. Dong-A Ilbo, citing fire and police officials, said a report of the fall was received at about 17:09 on Oct 3. Newsis reported the fall and the death in its headline. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap reported that the man, aged 71, was hiking alone and slipped while trying to take a photograph with Ulsanbawi in the background. He was airlifted in cardiac arrest to a hospital in Sokcho and died during treatment, Yonhap said. Dong-A Ilbo likewise reported that the man was rescued by helicopter, taken to hospital in cardiac arrest and later died. [ 1 , 2 ]
Dong-A Ilbo said Seongindae, also called Sinseondae, is a well-known spot from which Ulsanbawi on Mount Seorak can be seen. Yonhap also identified the location as the Geumgangsan Sinseondae, or Seongindae, area of Toseong-myeon. [ 1 , 2 ]
Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident, including accounts from witnesses, Yonhap said. Dong-A Ilbo also reported that police were looking into how the fall happened. The documents do not say whether the man was with anyone else, and Yonhap's account that he set out alone is not repeated by the other outlets. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The documents describe a single fatal accident at a mountain viewpoint popular for photographs, and give no indication of wider consequences such as site closures or new safety rules. Any significance beyond the incident itself, such as risks at similar viewing spots, is not supported by what the outlets reported.
Key facts
- A man in his 70s fell about 40 metres near Geumgangsan Seongindae in Wonam-ri, Toseong-myeon, Goseong County, Gangwon Province, at about 17:09 on Oct 3. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He fell while taking a photograph, according to accounts citing police and fire officials. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He was airlifted in cardiac arrest to a hospital in Sokcho and died there. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Yonhap reported the man was 71 years old and had set out hiking alone. [ 1 ]
- Seongindae, also called Sinseondae, is known as a spot from which Ulsanbawi on Mount Seorak can be seen. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the fall, including witness accounts, according to Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A man in his 70s died after falling at a mountain spot in Goseong County, Gangwon Province. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He fell about 40 metres while taking a photograph. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The fall occurred at about 17:09 on Oct 3 near Geumgangsan Seongindae in Wonam-ri, Toseong-myeon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He was airlifted in cardiac arrest and died at a hospital in Sokcho. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Seongindae, also known as Sinseondae, is a viewpoint for Ulsanbawi on Mount Seorak. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the man was hiking alone. Only Yonhap said he had set out on the hike alone; Dong-A Ilbo did not say whether anyone was with him.
- The precise cause of the fall. Both Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo say police are still investigating; the account that he slipped while taking a photo is reported as the apparent circumstances rather than a police finding.
- The man's exact age. Yonhap gave his age as 71, while Dong-A Ilbo described him only as in his 70s.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A report is received that a man has fallen about 40 metres near Geumgangsan Seongindae in Wonam-ri, Toseong-myeon, Goseong County (Oct 3). [ 1 , 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the man died, and that he had been hiking alone and slipped while taking a photograph (Oct 4). [ 1 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the death, citing fire and police officials and describing Seongindae as a viewpoint for Ulsanbawi (Oct 4). [ 2 ]
- Newsis reports the death in its headline (Oct 4). [ 3 ]