7-Year-Old Girl Dies in Drowning Accident at Water Park Wave Pool During Taekwondo Group Outing

[Financial News] A tragic accident occurred this summer when a 7-year-old child died in a wave pool at a water park during a group outing. The victim was reportedly wearing a life jacket when she was found, intensifying criticism over poor management, including alleged lapses in monitoring by safety staff and group supervisors.
According to Ilsanseo Police Station in Goyang City on the 14th, a report was received at around 12:18 p.m. on the 11th that A, 7, was floating face down on the water in a wave pool at a water park in Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo District.
Paramedics who rushed to the scene performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on A, who was in cardiac arrest, and urgently transported her to a nearby hospital. She died the next day while receiving treatment.
Police said their investigation confirmed that A had been taking part in a group event organized by a nearby taekwondo academy that day. At the time of the accident, she was enjoying the wave pool while properly wearing a life jacket for safety, regardless of water depth.
However, due to the crowded nature of the wave pool, no one appears to have properly noticed the accident at the moment it happened. The academy director and instructors who accompanied the group were present, and the water park's own safety staff were also on duty, but the first person to spot A in the water and report it was a regular visitor at the facility.
Safety experts at the scene warn that even when wearing a life jacket, children can suffer fatal accidents in places with strong currents and heavy crowds, such as wave pools, if they lose balance, flip over, or inhale water after colliding with other users. They also note that blind spots can easily form when crowds block the view of safety staff, making close supervision by group leaders essential.
Based on CCTV footage and witness statements, police are focusing their investigation on whether the taekwondo academy supervisors and the water park properly followed safety management rules. Police have also booked the academy director, the supervising instructors, and the water park's safety staff and officials on suspicion of occupational negligence resulting in death. In addition, they are reviewing whether the Serious Accidents Punishment Act can be applied to the operator of the water park for alleged negligence in managing a large multi-use facility.
According to OECD statistics on drowning deaths, South Korea has a relatively high rate of child drowning accidents. In particular, children between the ages of 5 and 9 account for about 50% of all child drowning deaths, underscoring the need for extra caution from guardians of children in that age group.
A police official said, "As the summer vacation season approaches and more group water outings for children are being held, it is urgent for private academies and facility operators to put in place thorough safety measures."
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter