By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Police have reinforced patrolling activities after sunset on bridges over the Han River in Seoul, following the suicides from the bridges of a number of businessmen and social leaders involved in corruption scandals.

A man in his 60s committed suicide by jumping off Hankang Bridge, one of 24 bridges over the river, on Friday, the first day of police patrols aimed at preventing suicide attempts.

``It is an embarrassing incident for the police,’’ said a police officer of Yongsan Police Station. ``Measures to prevent suicides should have been introduced much earlier. An increasing number of citizens are coming to the bridges to end their lives to escape financial and other difficulties.’’

The bridges over the Han River, which flows through Seoul from west to east, have long been used for suicide attempts. Police said officers patrol certain bridges, including Panpo Bridge and Hankang Bridge, both popular for suicide attempts, from 7 p.m. Since Friday, police patrol cars have been making inspection rounds on 24 bridges from noon, according to police.

The toughed measures are a response to the suicide last week of a food manufacturer who plunged into the river due to mounting public criticism for making dumplings with spoiled radish. Police recovered the body of the 35-year-old owner of Vision Foods several days later.

``Under the bridges, water flows too fast and visibility is limited. This makes recovery operations extremely slow,’’ a police officer on a rescue diving team said. ``Sometimes it take months to find a body. Families often set up tents on the riverside to wait for the body to emerge.’’

Earlier this month, Lee Joon-won, mayor of Paju, Kyonggi Province, jumped into the Han River at the northern end of Panpo Bridge while he was under investigation for bribery charges.

His death was the fourth in a string of suicides by influential businessman and politicians involved in graft scandals this year. South Cholla governor Park Tae-young committed suicide on April 29, former president of Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nam Sang-kook on March 11, and Pusan mayor Ahn Sang-young on February 4.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr