[26.05.10] Missing Man Found Alive on Mudeungsan After Five Days

Missing Man Found Alive on Mudeungsan After Five Days

📍30-Year-Old Survived Without Phone, Enduring in Mountain With Two Bottles of Water

A man in his 30s who left home saying he was going out to exercise was dramatically rescued alive five days after going missing on Mudeungsan Mountain in Gwangju.

The man, who had gone hiking without even carrying his cellphone, survived severe dehydration and exhaustion deep inside the mountain by rationing two bottles of water he had brought with him. Police and rescue teams eventually located him after an intensive multi-day search involving drones, tracking teams, and rescue dogs.

Authorities said the case could easily have turned into a fatal long-term missing-person incident, but persistent efforts by both family members and police ultimately saved his life.

🔹 Man Disappeared After Leaving Home to Exercise

According to Gwangju Seobu Police Station on May 10, police received an urgent missing-person report late at night on April 27.

Family members reported that the man had gone out to exercise earlier in the day but never returned home. The missing man, identified only as A, is in his early 30s. He had even left his cellphone behind at home when he went out.

As hours passed without any contact, the family became increasingly concerned that he may have encountered an accident rather than simply staying out late.

Police immediately launched an investigation and analyzed CCTV footage. Authorities confirmed that A left his home in Hwajeong-dong, Seo District, boarded a taxi near Ssangchon Intersection, and headed toward Jeungsimsa Temple near Mudeungsan Mountain.

Further footage showed him moving toward hiking trails near Saeinbong Peak and Yaksaam area, leading investigators to suspect he had become stranded during a mountain hike.

🔹 Massive Search Conducted Across Mountain Area

Police quickly coordinated with other agencies, including firefighters and special rescue teams, to begin a full-scale mountain search operation.

Drones, rescue dogs, and mobile police units were deployed while investigators narrowed possible locations based on the man’s estimated route.

However, the rugged terrain and dense forest around Mudeungsan made the search extremely difficult. Authorities explained that even stepping slightly off established hiking paths in the Saeinbong area could make locating a person nearly impossible.

Police also learned from family members that A had ongoing health problems, raising fears that prolonged exposure in the mountains could become life-threatening.

By the fifth day of the search, additional personnel from Gwangju Dongbu Police Station and specialized rescue dog units had joined the operation. Family members also participated directly in the search efforts.

🔹 Found 200 Meters Off Hiking Trail

The dramatic rescue occurred during an intensive search near Saeinbong Peak.

Police and rescue workers eventually discovered A collapsed in a remote wooded area roughly 200 meters away from the hiking trail. At the time of discovery, he was suffering from severe dehydration and exhaustion and could barely move.

Authorities said he had survived for nearly five days by slowly rationing the two bottles of water he had carried with him before becoming stranded.

A police official explained that the man immediately drank water brought by family members after being rescued because his dehydration had become so severe.

Investigators later determined that A had collapsed after suddenly losing physical strength during the hike and had remained unable to move afterward.

🔹 Persistent Search Efforts Ultimately Saved His Life

The man was immediately transported to a hospital for treatment and is currently recovering.

Police stated that rapid CCTV analysis and tracking of his movement route played a key role in identifying the likely search area despite the absence of cellphone data.

Authorities also credited the coordinated efforts involving drones, rescue dogs, and multiple agencies for helping maintain the search until the man was finally found alive.

Lee Young-dae, head of the missing persons unit at Gwangju Seobu Police Station, said police were able to rescue a precious life safely thanks to persistent search efforts and cooperation among related agencies.

News of the dramatic rescue quickly spread online, with many expressing relief and praising both the family and rescue teams for refusing to give up.

One-line summary : A man in his 30s survived five days on Mudeungsan Mountain with only two bottles of water before being dramatically rescued by police.