A series of suicide incidents have recently occurred on Incheon Bridge, the longest bridge in South Korea.

According to the Incheon Coast Guard today (August 4), a report was received from the Incheon Bridge control room at 8:53 PM on July 31 stating that a person had fallen into the sea.

Dispatching patrol vessels upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard discovered the body of a man in his 40s, surnamed A, in the waters near Incheon Bridge at 4:58 PM on August 1, one day after he went missing.

It was found that Mr. A had parked his vehicle on the shoulder of Incheon Bridge and jumped into the sea.

Including Mr. A, there have been a total of three cases where drivers fell and died on Incheon Bridge over the 11 days from July 24 to the previous day.

On July 24 and 26, drivers in their 50s and 60s respectively parked their vehicles and fell into the sea, resulting in their deaths.

More than 100 people have jumped from Incheon Bridge since its opening in 2009. Although the operating company installed plastic drums to prevent parking on the shoulders near the main towers, calls for the installation of safety railings have been continuously raised.

In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is pushing forward with a project to install anti-fall safety railings, but is facing difficulties as there are no design standards applicable to bridges without sidewalks.

(Photo: Yonhap News)