Deaflympics medalist found dead in South Chungcheong

A hearing impaired taekwondo athlete was found dead in Nonsan, South Chungcheong, on Wednesday, according to police on Monday. 

The athlete is believed to have died after falling from a lodging facility, the Nonsan Police Station said.

The athlete was a medal-winning taekwondo competitor at the Deaflympics, an international multi-sport event for athletes with hearing impairments.

No note was found at the scene and there were no signs of criminal involvement, according to the police.

“We plan to close the case as a death investigation involving the deceased,” a police official said. “However, if a complaint related to the matter is filed, we will separately examine whether there is any connection.”

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191 or the Crisis Counseling Center at 1577-0199. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling. Contact 02-2075-4180 (+1) to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

BY SHIN HYE-YEON