11-Year-Old Girl Killed in Gwangju Fall Was a Promising Tennis Player Preparing for International Tournament

Korea Tennis Association:
"Heartbroken and Deeply Saddened...
Our Deepest Condolences"

It has been revealed that the 11-year-old girl, referred to as Ms. A, who died after being struck by a teenage girl who fell from the rooftop of a commercial building in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, was a promising tennis player.

On July 9, the Korea Tennis Association posted an official message on its social media, stating, "We express our condolences for Ms. A, who was the victim of the fall accident in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province." The association remembered Ms. A as "a brave young athlete," adding, "Even after being eliminated in the recent junior national team trials, she confidently said, 'I will definitely make it next year.'"

Condolence post for Ms. A from the Korea Tennis Association. Korea Tennis Association Instagram

The association continued, "Ms. A was preparing for the Sunchang Junior Tournament, which begins on the 11th," and expressed sorrow, saying, "In this sudden and tragic event, Ms. A left for the sky together with her mother." The association added, "We are deeply saddened and heartbroken. We will remember Ms. A, a fifth grader at OO Elementary School in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. We extend our deepest condolences to her family." According to the association, during the Sunchang Junior Tournament to be held on the 11th, a memorial space will be set up at the venue for Ms. A, and the players will wear black ribbons.

Previously, at around 2:36 p.m. on July 7, B, an 18-year-old girl, fell from the rooftop of a 13-story commercial building in downtown Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, and landed on Ms. A, her mother in her 40s, and a man in his 20s who were passing by. Ms. A died at the scene, and her mother was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, where she passed away on July 8 after receiving treatment. The man in his 20s sustained injuries to his shoulder and other areas and is receiving treatment at the hospital, but his life is not in danger.

B, who fell, was also transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and died later that evening. It was determined that on the day of the incident, B had received treatment at a psychiatric hospital located in the building before going up to the rooftop. No suicide note or similar document was found at the scene. The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.