Unresponsive man pulled out of Han River after being caught in currents

Witnesses stated that "a swimmer had been pulled into a water control structure" near the southern end of Jamsil Bridge in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

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People swim in the Han River, south of Jamsil Bridge in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on June 7.

A man who was caught in strong currents while swimming in the Han River was found unresponsive on Sunday. 

The incident was reported at 8:37 a.m. after witnesses said that “a swimmer had been pulled into a water control structure” near the southern end of Jamsil Bridge in Songpa District, southern Seoul, according to the Seoul 119 Special Rescue Services team.

Rescuers searched the area and found the man floating in the water at 9:09 a.m., about 20 minutes after the search began.

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The man was unresponsive when he was pulled from the water. Emergency responders administered first aid before transporting him to a nearby hospital.

An underwater weir, a submerged structure designed to regulate water levels, is installed beneath Jamsil Bridge. Authorities warn that the area around the weir can generate fast-moving currents and underwater vortices, making it dangerous for swimmers.

Police and fire authorities said that they are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident based on witness statements.


BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

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