It was belatedly revealed that Han Jaemyung, a civilian diver who participated in the search for missing persons during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, has passed away. He was 49 years old.
According to Yonhap News on the 3rd, Han Jaemyung reportedly died from an industrial accident at a construction site in Iraq on September 25.
Han, a former Marine Corps civilian diver, heard the news of the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16, 2014, and headed to Paengmok Port in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, where he conducted rescue operations and searched for victims for over two months.
Afterwards, Han suffered from osteonecrosis, a decompression sickness where blood vessels in the bone are blocked causing bone decay, as well as trauma, forcing him to leave his livelihood.
Han also applied for industrial accident recognition against the Korea Coast Guard, but it was reportedly rejected on the grounds that diseases and injuries occurring during rescue operations did not qualify.
Han’s funeral was held at Hwaseong Hambaeksan Funeral Hall in Gyeonggi Province.
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