Two boys die at water park before opening; electrocution suspected

Brothers found dead at Gokseong-gun water facility ahead of summer opening

The deaths of two elementary school brothers — aged 10 and 9 — at a privately operated water facility in Gokseong-gun that had yet to open for the summer are believed to have been caused by electrocution.

The Gokseong Police Station said Wednesday that the National Forensic Service, which conducted autopsies on the two boys, found the cause of death to be drowning following electric shock.

Police have provisionally concluded that the brothers entered the water, lost consciousness after being struck by an electric current from a short circuit, and drowned.

A joint inspection at the scene Monday confirmed that electric current was flowing through the water park. Investigators believe the current entered the water after wiring connected to the facility's lighting fixtures came into contact with or became submerged in the water.

Footage of the incident shows the brothers collapsing motionless the moment they stepped into the shallow pool, which was only about 25 centimeters deep — roughly knee-high.

An analysis of closed-circuit television footage from the day of the accident found no other visitors at the facility besides the brothers' family.

Police are investigating how the private operator allowed entry to the facility despite not having obtained an operating permit from the county office.

Police have summoned the operator's representative and county licensing officials as witnesses to examine the contract and operating conditions. If wrongdoing is established, investigators plan to pursue charges of negligent homicide or violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

The brothers visited the water facility in Gokseong-gun on Sunday, June 21, ahead of its official summer opening, when the accident occurred.