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| An old woman was rescued after being trapped for 18 hours on the 13th-floor balcony |
The incident occurred near Dongnimmun Station in Jongno-gu (독립문역 종로구), a busy residential area with high traffic and noise, making it almost impossible for her cries for help to be heard from the street.
👮♂️ Life-Saving Observation from Patrol Officers
On the morning of April 12 at around 10 a.m., two officers from the Gyonam Police Station, Sergeant Yoo Jae-il and Senior Sergeant Kim Doo-tae, were conducting a routine patrol in the neighborhood when they noticed something strange: a makeshift rope made from pieces of cloth and clothing hanging from a 13th-floor balcony.
Recognizing this as a possible distress signal, the officers immediately approached the building and worked to locate the apartment. They contacted a resident on the upper floor to confirm the situation and then quickly gained access using the apartment's door code, which they were able to secure during the process. Inside, they found the elderly woman shivering from the cold and visibly distressed.
❄️ A Close Call in Winter Weather
The woman had been stuck on the balcony since the previous day at 4 p.m., enduring nearly 18 hours of isolation and cold. During the early hours of the morning, temperatures dropped significantly, and snow had fallen, increasing the risk of hypothermia. Her survival and successful rescue were largely thanks to the officers’ keen observation and rapid response.
💬 Police Praise Alertness and Community Safety
A spokesperson from the Jongno Police Station praised the actions of the officers:
“This is a prime example of how careful, attentive patrolling can save lives. The officers did not ignore what could have been dismissed as laundry or trash—they recognized a subtle SOS signal and took immediate action.”
The police emphasized that such cases highlight the critical importance of neighborhood patrols and maintaining a strong local safety network, especially for elderly residents living alone.
📚 Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
"서울의 한 고층아파트에서 베란다에 나갔다가 문이 잠기는 바람에 1박2일 동안 갇혀 버린 독거노인이 옷가지를 밖으로 던져 순찰 중이던 경찰에 구조됐다."
Key Vocabulary:
- 고층아파트 (go-cheung a-pa-teu) – high-rise apartment
- 베란다 (be-ran-da) – balcony / veranda
- 잠기다 (jam-gi-da) – to be locked (passive form)
- ~는 바람에 (~neun ba-ram-e) – due to (unexpectedly negative result)
- 1박2일 (il-bak i-il) – one night and two days
- 갇히다 (gat-hi-da) – to be trapped / locked in
- 독거노인 (dok-geo no-in) – elderly person living alone
- 옷가지 (ot-ga-ji) – articles of clothing
- 던지다 (deon-ji-da) – to throw
- 순찰 중 (sun-chal jung) – during patrol
- 경찰 (gyeong-chal) – police
- 구조되다 (gu-jo-dwe-da) – to be rescued
Grammar Notes:
- ~는 바람에 → 문이 잠기는 바람에: “because (something bad happened).”
- N 동안 → 1박2일 동안: For (a duration of time).
- ~에 갇히다 → 갇혀 버린: Passive verb form of 갇다 (to enclose/trap). 버리다 adds a nuance of "unfortunately" or "completely."
- ~던 경찰에 구조되다 → 순찰 중이던 경찰에 구조됐다: “Was rescued by the police who were on patrol.” ~던 describes someone doing an ongoing action in the past.
- N을/를 던지다 → 옷가지를 던져: “Threw clothing items.”
Language Insight:
- 독거노인 (elderly person living alone) is a social issue term in Korea, often discussed in the context of safety, isolation, and welfare services.
- 1박2일 is a fixed expression often used in tourism, but here, it emphasizes the long, uncomfortable duration of being trapped.
- The phrase 문이 잠기는 바람에 shows how one small mishap can lead to serious consequences—this grammar pattern is often used in news stories to explain cause and effect.
Translation:
"In a high-rise apartment in Seoul, an elderly person living alone became trapped for two days and one night after stepping out onto the balcony and having the door lock behind them. They were rescued by police on patrol after throwing pieces of clothing outside to signal for help."