Gyeonggi Fire Department: 75% of Water Recreation Accidents in Past 3 Years Occurred in Rivers and at Sea

Over the past three years, 75% of water recreation accidents in the Gyeonggi region have occurred in rivers and at sea.

According to the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters on July 31, there were a total of 153 water recreation safety incidents in Gyeonggi Province over the past three years (2023–2025), with 53 incidents in 2023, 52 in 2024, and 48 in 2025.

Of these, 115 incidents—about 75% of the total—took place in rivers and at sea. In addition, accidents were also reported in mountains (valleys), accommodations, and pools.

The Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters emphasized the importance of strictly following safety guidelines at all water recreation sites, not only at commonly known high-risk locations like valleys and the sea, but also at accommodations such as pensions and pool villas where accidents have also occurred.

Water Playground Safety Accidents in the Past Three Years at Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

Especially with the summer vacation season seeing an increase in children and students enjoying water play, the authorities added that guardians must pay close attention to detailed safety management, such as making sure life jackets are worn before entering the water.

For safe water recreation, the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters advised: ▲ doing sufficient warm-up exercises before entering the water ▲ wearing a life jacket ▲ checking for hazards such as water depth ▲ not swimming after drinking alcohol ▲ not allowing children to play in the water unsupervised ▲ and immediately reporting any accidents to 119 and utilizing nearby rescue equipment.

Hong Jang-pyo, head of the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "Water recreation accidents can occur at any type of location, often in moments of inattention. Especially during the summer vacation, I hope children and students enjoying water activities will spend a safe and enjoyable summer by following safety guidelines together with their guardians."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.