"Swimming" - Search Difficulties for a Man in His 50s from Imsil-gun Who Jumped into the Lake During Heavy Rain

Search Operations Continue for Third Day... Rain Forecasted Again on the 18th
Difficult Despite Deployment of 50 Personnel, Drones, and Diving Equipment

Despite the heavy rain warning, a man in his 50s who jumped into the lake insisting on swimming has gone missing, and search efforts are underway. However, the continuous heavy rain has caused the water level to rise, making the search difficult.

At around 7:40 PM on the 15th, a report was received that a man in his 50s went missing after jumping into Okjeongho Lake in Unam-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, saying he would swim. Police and fire authorities are conducting a search operation.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters]

According to the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency on the 16th, a 112 emergency call was received at around 7:40 PM the previous day reporting that "an acquaintance entered the water and has not come out" at Okjeongho Lake in Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk.

Based on statements from the caller and acquaintances, it was understood that Mr. A entered the lake despite his group's attempts to dissuade him, saying he wanted to swim. At the time Mr. A entered the water, a heavy rain warning was in effect across Jeonbuk, and the investigation authorities presume that he was swept away by the water and could not get out.

The police, fire department, and military, who received the report, have been conducting search operations for three days using about 50 personnel along with drones and diving equipment.

At around 7:40 PM on the 15th, a report was received that a man in his 50s went missing after jumping into Okjeongho Lake in Unam-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, saying he would swim. Police and fire authorities are conducting a search operation.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters·Yonhap News]

However, it has been reported that the rising lake water due to heavy rain is causing difficulties in the search.

Additionally, the rain, which had briefly subsided on the 16th, resumed, and by the morning of the 17th, 41.5 mm of rain had fallen in Imsil. Until the 18th, 100 to 200 mm of rain, with a maximum of over 250 mm, is expected to fall in Jeonbuk Province.

The police and fire authorities stated, "We are continuing the search operations by mobilizing the maximum available personnel" and pledged to thoroughly investigate the exact circumstances of the entry into the water and to do their best in the search efforts.

Meanwhile, from the 13th to the morning of the 17th, 352 mm of rain fell in Imsil.