Korea University Rugby Team Student Collapses and Dies During Training Camp in Japan

Korea University President "Feels Sadness and Despair"

A student from Korea University’s rugby team collapsed during training in Japan and was transported to a hospital but ultimately passed away.

According to Korea University on the 23rd, Kim Mo, who was part of the College of Education’s Physical Education Department and active in the rugby team, collapsed due to exhaustion on the 19th while training in Ryugasaki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

View of Korea University Seoul Campus.

Kim received emergency treatment on site and was treated at a nearby general hospital but died the following day. It was reported that Kim’s body temperature was 40 degrees Celsius upon arrival at the hospital.

However, Kim’s condition initially improved, and it was expected that he would be discharged the day after being hospitalized for about a day. Unfortunately, his condition suddenly worsened, and he never regained consciousness.

The hospital requested an autopsy from the local Japanese police, but the investigation found no signs of foul play. Following the wishes of Kim’s parents, the body was cremated locally in Japan without an autopsy. The rugby team members and staff who were training also suspended their training and returned to Korea.

Kim’s funeral was held at the funeral hall of Korea University Anam Hospital in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Korea University President Kim Dong-won stated, “We feel great sorrow and devastation, and in accordance with the family’s wishes, we will conduct a simple funeral with the utmost respect.”

Meanwhile, on the day Kim was training, the highest daytime temperature in Ryugasaki City reached 33.8 degrees Celsius, and the temperature had already surpassed 30 degrees Celsius by 9 a.m., when the training began.