Two Missing or Dead Daily... Sharp Rise in Water Accidents During Vacation Season

Total of 122 Deaths in the Past 5 Years
Main Causes Include Poor Swimming Skills and Safety Negligence

Recently, with the summer vacation season underway, water-related accidents have been rapidly increasing. Since most of these incidents occur due to safety negligence, special caution is required.

On the 2nd, as the heatwave continues relentlessly, children are beating the heat by playing in the water with their friends at a temporary water play area set up at an elementary school in downtown Gwacheon. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

According to the daily safety management report from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 14th, from July 20 to August 14, an average of two people per day have gone missing or suffered casualties. In particular, from the 1st to the 11th of this month, 26 casualties were reported, indicating a rising trend in water-related accidents.

On the 11th, a 50-year-old man drowned while engaging in water leisure activities in Yokji-myeon, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongnam Province, and on the 10th, a 69-year-old man drowned at Gyeokpo Beach in Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk Province. Although a lifeguard rescued him, he ultimately passed away.

Over the past five years, a total of 122 people have died in summer water-related accidents, with most fatalities concentrated in August. The main causes of accidents were swimming inexperience (36%), safety negligence (33%), swimming under the influence of alcohol (17%), and high waves (9%).

To prevent water-related accidents, it is essential to follow safety rules such as warming up before swimming, wearing safety equipment like life jackets and tubes, avoiding entry into swimming prohibited areas, checking lifeguard locations and hazardous zones in advance, refraining from swimming after drinking alcohol, avoiding showing off swimming skills or swimming alone, and being cautious of sudden weather changes that may cause water levels to rise.

Professor Gong Ha-seong of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Woosuk University advised, “You should be especially careful in places like valleys where depth is difficult to estimate. If possible, it is safer to swim in crowded areas rather than secluded spots so that you can call for help if you get into trouble. Even shallow water cannot be considered safe, so you should never forget to wear a life jacket to prepare for any risks.”