Overview

• A 70-year-old woman in central Seoul became trapped on her apartment balcony on April 9 when an automatic door lock engaged behind her.
• Stranded overnight in unseasonably cold weather with snowfall, she faced the risk of hypothermia as temperatures dropped significantly.
• Unable to call for help due to street noise, she tied together pieces of clothing to create a makeshift signal, which she threw over the balcony railing.
• Two patrolling officers, Sgt. Yoo Jae-il and senior patrol officer Kim Du-tae, noticed the dangling cloth on April 10 and acted quickly to rescue her.
• The incident highlights safety risks associated with automated building features and the importance of proactive emergency response in urban areas.