A 60-year-old Singaporean tourist, referred to as Mr A in local media, was rescued by helicopter on May 18, 2026, after allegedly entering a restricted area on Sanbangsan Mountain in Jeju Island, South Korea [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The tourist reportedly entered the restricted zone at 7:48 p.m. while climbing the mountain and became lost, prompting him to make a distress call to authorities [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Rescue teams launched a search and airlifted him around 10 p.m., roughly two hours after the distress call was made [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Officials reported the man was in good condition following the rescue [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Sanbangsan Mountain is a designated cultural heritage site. Its upper areas, including the summit, are off-limits to protect vegetation and prevent rockfalls. Visitors are allowed only up to the ticket office and Sanbanggulsa Cave Temple about halfway up the mountain [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Unauthorized entry into restricted zones can lead to a fine of up to 20 million won (approximately SGD 17,000) or imprisonment for up to two years [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The Jeju Self-Governing Police Agency announced on May 19 that it has launched an investigation into the Singaporean tourist for alleged violation of South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Conservation and Utilisation Act due to his unauthorized entry into the protected area [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
