25.08.20.Today News : Firefighter Dispatched to Itaewon Tragedy Found Dead 10 Days After Disappearance

Firefighter Dispatched to Itaewon Tragedy Found Dead 10 Days After Disappearance

• Suffered from depression after incident… Police investigating cause of death and movements

A firefighter who had been suffering from depression after being dispatched to the Itaewon tragedy in 2022 was found dead ten days after going missing. Police are investigating his exact movements and cause of death, while discussing with the family whether to conduct an autopsy.

A firefighter who responded to the Itaewon tragedy was found dead ten days after going missing.

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■ Firefighter Found After 10 Days Missing

A 30-year-old firefighter, identified only as A, who struggled with depression following the Itaewon disaster, was found dead ten days after his disappearance. According to police, his body was discovered at around 12:30 p.m. on the 20th under an overpass near Geumi-dong, Siheung City, along the Seoul Metropolitan Ring Expressway.

■ Circumstances of Disappearance and Discovery
On the day he went missing, A left the Nam Incheon tollgate around 2:30 a.m., parked his car on the shoulder, discarded his phone, and vanished. The discovery site was located about 8–9 kilometers away in a straight line. Due to the slope near the overpass, passing drivers were unlikely to notice the body.

■ Scene Findings and Police Investigation
When found, A was lying on the ground in a decomposed state. No signs of foul play have been identified so far. Police suspect that he walked into the Siheung area after leaving his vehicle and are analyzing the scene along with his movement route. They plan to determine the cause of death and motive after consulting with his family regarding an autopsy.

■ Struggles After the Itaewon Disaster
After being dispatched to the Itaewon disaster scene in October 2022, A suffered severe trauma and was diagnosed with depression, for which he had been receiving treatment. In a past media interview, he said, “It was unbearable placing the deceased in the designated black zone. My parents were devastated that I was even present at the scene, so I can’t imagine how the victims’ families must feel. I wished it had not been real.”

■ Large-Scale Search Operation
Following his disappearance, police and fire authorities launched an extensive search around Namdong District, Incheon. When no clues were found, the search area was expanded to Siheung. A total of 330 personnel, search dogs, and drones were mobilized. Despite these efforts, A was ultimately found dead, underscoring the severe psychological toll and PTSD faced by first responders of large-scale tragedies.

One-line summary : A firefighter who suffered from depression after the Itaewon tragedy was found dead in Siheung 10 days after going missing.