'Corona Response Officer' in 30s Ministry of Justice Official Dies by Jumping from Dongjak Bridge

Seoul Dongjak Bridge Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A public official working on COVID-19 related tasks at the Ministry of Justice died after jumping from a Han River bridge.

According to the police and fire authorities on the 25th, around 4:57 a.m., Mr. A, affiliated with the Ministry of Justice, jumped from Dongjak Bridge into the Han River.

After reviewing nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV), the police confirmed that Mr. A drove a car to Dongjak Bridge, collided with the railing, got out of the car, and then jumped off the bridge. Police who responded to a traffic accident report found no driver in the car and confirmed through CCTV that Mr. A had jumped.

Mr. A was found by the Banpo Rescue Team at around 9:08 a.m. that day but was reported to have been deceased. The police are investigating the reasons behind Mr. A's apparent suicide.

Mr. A was known to be part of a department within the Ministry of Justice responsible for emergency situations and crisis management, handling COVID-19 related duties.

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