Couple in Their 60s Missing from Haenam Mudflat Found Dead

No Signs of Trauma Found
Coast Guard Investigates Exact Cause of the Accident

A couple in their 60s who went missing while collecting oysters in the mudflats of Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, were both found dead.

Coast Guard conducting search operations. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Wando Coast Guard on the 3rd, at around 7:32 a.m. that day, the body of Ms. A (63, female) was discovered on the west coast near Galdu Port, Songji-myeon, Haenam-gun. Previously, her husband, Mr. B (68), was found dead during a drone search at around 4:03 p.m. the previous day, about 1 km southeast of Galdu Port.

The Coast Guard began a search after receiving a report at around 3:00 p.m. on the 1st that the couple had disappeared after heading to the mudflats with a handcart. CCTV footage at the Galdu Port dock captured the couple heading toward the mudflats, and at the scene, only the handcart believed to have been used by them was left behind.

No signs of trauma or evidence of a crime were found on the couple's bodies. The Coast Guard believes the couple became stranded and met with an accident due to a sudden change in tidal currents during the spring tide period, when the tidal range is large, and is investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

The Coast Guard continued the search at sea and on land, deploying five vessels including patrol boats and coastal rescue boats, 26 personnel, and 44 firefighters and local residents. They conducted intensive searches using the ocean current prediction system to locate the missing persons.