"I Want to Leave"... 40s Self-Employed Person Who Left Home After Bankruptcy Filing Found Dead

On the afternoon of the 16th, a memorial altar was set up in front of Exit 3 of Yeouido National Assembly Station to honor self-employed individuals who recently passed away due to financial hardships and to urge the government to lift business restriction measures. On this day, the National Emergency Committee for the Self-Employed proposed individual memorial offerings in response to police attempts to block the altar installation, citing violations of quarantine laws and road occupancy regulations, and demanded the installation of the altar.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] News has emerged of the death of a self-employed person who had been struggling with financial hardship due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis.

According to the police on the 19th, at around 10:07 a.m. that day, the body of Mr. A (48) was found on a hillside in Suncheon. Mr. A, a self-employed individual residing in Muan, Jeollanam-do, was reported to have been suffering emotional distress after filing for bankruptcy following a recent business failure.

Mr. A went missing after leaving his home on June 13 at approximately 5:50 p.m., telling his family he "wanted to leave." His family searched for him but were unable to locate him for over three months.

The police reportedly responded to a report from the head of a nearby village the day before the body was found, stating that a car had been parked near the hillside for about two weeks with the keys still in the ignition. After confirming the vehicle belonged to Mr. A through identification and belongings found inside, the police and about 80 rescue personnel conducted a search.

Mr. A's body was discovered one day after the search resumed. The police believe Mr. A took his own life and estimate the date of death to be around early September when the vehicle was found. The exact cause of death is under investigation.

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