Interior ministry reports fewest summer drowning deaths on record

The interior ministry said Wednesday that 14 people died in water recreation accidents during this summer's water safety management period, the fewest since South Korea began keeping the statistics in 2008, despite a summer of record heat.

The figure is down 64 percent from the 2008-2025 average of 39.7 deaths a year. Total deaths from all water-related accidents fell to 82, down about 13 percent from the three-year average of 94 and four fewer than the 86 recorded a year earlier.

The ministry attributed the decline to an expanded safety period and a larger deployment of personnel. It extended the management period to 105 days, from June 1 to Sept. 13, from 92 days a year earlier, and stretched peak-season special measures to 73 days from 34.

It provided 8 billion won ($5.96 million) in special grants to local governments and deployed 5,746 safety personnel at rivers, streams and designated beaches, up 7.6 percent from a year earlier.

Senior officials, including the minister, vice minister and bureau directors, inspected 67 sites across the country, while regional supervisors carried out sample checks at 262 locations. Twenty-five areas with frequent accidents were designated for priority management, with 51 sites there inspected in advance.

An analysis of this year's accidents showed that harvesting and catching marine resources, such as fishing, intertidal foraging and freshwater snail gathering, accounted for 38 percent of deaths, the largest share, while water recreation accounted for 17 percent. By location, 41 percent of accidents occurred in coastal waters and 35 percent in rivers and streams. Failure to follow basic safety rules, including not wearing life jackets and entering the water after drinking, was the main cause.

Based on the findings, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to strengthen patrols and guidance in areas where no safety personnel are stationed, and continue promoting life jacket use and a ban on entering the water after drinking.

"Even under difficult conditions, with record heat this summer and early and late heat waves, related ministries and local governments were able to reduce the loss of life by extending the response period and strengthening on-site safety management," Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung said. He added that the ministry will continue to closely examine safety blind spots, including coastal waters and undesignated beaches, and strengthen on-site patrols and prevention efforts.