Missing Korean Hiker In Cordillera Mountains FOUND ALIVE After 8 Days And 7 Nights Of Search Operations

The search is finally over. After eight days and seven nights of search and rescue operations, the Korean hiker who went missing in the mountains of Barlig in Mt. Province has been found. And he's alive. In an update from the Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Choi Sung Kyu was found around noon by Joselito Tukyap (a local resident) in barangay Latang, Barlig. The man was hunting for wild honey when he came across the Korean tourist.

Choi will be transported to the Bontoc General Hospital tomorrow (Wednesday) or as soon as his health condition permits.

Choi went missing over a week ago when he tried to hike to Batad, Banaue through Mt. Amuyao. At one point, policemen as well as the Korean Embassy were able to contact him via mobile phone and asked him to divulge his location. He said he was near a big rock which prompted rescuers to head over to Ammiw and Furud where large rock formations can be found. The rescuers failed to locate him

For the next several days, a massive search and rescue operation was conducted involving more than 70 people. These include responders from the Sagada MDRRMC, responders from the PDRRMC, locals and volunteers from the Barlig MDRRMC, and over a dozen Korean nationals. The Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the K-9 unit of the Cordillera DRRMC were also tapped to assist in the search and rescue operations.

© Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun

In light of the incident, tourists and travelers are being advised to always get a guide especially for hiking trips in the Cordillera region. It's easy to get lost in Cordillera's mountains. Even locals and experienced climbers often find themselves lost in the region's thickly forested slopes. What more if you're a visitor who is unfamiliar with the region's terrain. Lesson from the incident: get a guide.