45 Incidents Reported This Month
"Avoid Acting Alone and Frequently Check Your Location"
In Jeju, where it is currently bracken gathering season, more than 40 cases of people getting lost have occurred this month alone, prompting authorities to urge citizens to exercise caution.
The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters announced that from April 1 to April 21 (as of 4 p.m.), a total of 45 incidents related to getting lost while gathering bracken had been reported in Jeju. Of these, all but five cases (which involved snake bites, illness, and other causes) were confirmed to be incidents where people got lost while collecting bracken and called for rescue.
On the 21st, a woman in her 70s who was gathering bracken near Gasiri, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo City, lost her way and was rescued by the fire department. Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters
On the 12th, a woman in her 90s was rescued by emergency services after getting lost while gathering bracken with her group near a stream in Daepo-dong, Seogwipo City. Around the same time, a woman in her 60s also called 119 after getting lost with her companions while picking bracken near an oreum in Gasiri, Pyoseon-myeon, and rescue dogs and a team were dispatched to find her.
On the 21st, a report was received that a person in their 70s, identified as A, got lost while gathering bracken near Wimi-ri, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo City. The fire department rescued the individual and ensured they returned home safely.
It is common for people to venture deep into the mountains in search of prime bracken spots, become absorbed in gathering, and lose their way. Many people become so engrossed in picking bracken that they focus only on the ground, neglecting their surroundings, and later realize they do not know where they are.
Due to the frequent incidents, fire stations such as Jeju Eastern Fire Station are not only deploying rescue teams but also using drones to locate those in need of assistance. In particular, during nighttime hours, they utilize the thermal imaging function of drones to aid in search operations.
The fire authorities are urging the public to follow safety guidelines. Once someone gets lost, it can take time to locate them, and in some cases, the situation can become life-threatening.
In fact, over the past five years from 2020 to 2024, there have been a total of 511 cases of people getting lost in Jeju, with 212 cases (41.5%) occurring while gathering bracken. Notably, 193 of these incidents were concentrated in April, when spring rains make bracken tender and abundant.
An official from the Fire Safety Headquarters stated, "When gathering bracken in the spring, it is important to avoid acting alone and to frequently check your location. If you do get lost, do not panic. Request rescue by calling 119 and remain where you are so that the search can proceed smoothly."
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