World Urban Legend

 On the night of December 12, 1979, South Korea was engulfed in a whirlwind of upheaval. This event, commonly known as the 12.12 Military Insurrection or the 12.12 Purge Coup d'état , was when the New Military faction, led by Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo , and primarily centered around the Hana-hoe private military club, seized power by arresting General Jeong Seung-hwa, the Martial Law Commander and Army Chief of Staff, along with other key military leaders, without President Choi Kyu-hah's approval. Through this incident, Security Commander Chun Doo-hwan rapidly emerged as the de facto strongman of South Korea, eventually ascending to the 11th presidency after the May 17 Coup d'état and the suppression of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement the following year. Background of the Event: Chaos and Suspicion After the 10.26 Incident After the 10.26 Incident (the assassination of President Park Chung-hee) , the military leadership resolved to unite for national se...

 On the morning of October 21, 1994, at approximately 7:38 AM, a tragic accident occurred when a section of the Seongsu Bridge, managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, collapsed into the Han River. The upper truss structure between piers 10 and 11, spanning roughly 50 meters, gave way without warning. The collapse claimed 32 lives and injured 17 others, resulting in a total of 49 casualties. Among the victims were students commuting to school, passengers on public transportation, and a foreign national. A city bus carrying high school students was the most severely affected, with 29 of 31 passengers losing their lives. The investigation pointed to two main causes. First, poor construction and design flaws were evident. The welded connections of the truss were defective, and the bridge had suffered from serious corrosion. Despite these issues, the bridge was not properly inspected or maintained. Second, the bridge regularly bore the load of overweight trucks, far exceeding i...

On Friday, September 11, 1998, around 2 PM, a Vapor Cloud Explosion (VCE) occurred at an LPG charging station near Naedong Intersection in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The incident resulted in one death and 96 injuries, making it a major disaster. First Explosion While the safety manager was absent, the tank lorry driver opened the vent valve and attempted a transfer operation. During this process, the hose coupling detached and leaked gas. A taxi nearby started its engine, and the resulting spark ignited the gas, causing the first explosion. Second Explosion At 2:23 PM, while emergency services were attempting to extinguish the fire, the tank lorry exploded, producing a fireball over 50 meters in diameter. This engulfed nearby factories and vehicles in flames, causing about 60 additional injuries. The explosion was dramatically captured on camera by a passing KBS helicopter, becoming a globally recognized exclusive. Third Explosion At 2:24 PM, an underground buried buta...

  Korean Air Flight 801 Crash Overview The Korean Air Flight 801 crash occurred on August 6, 1997, when a Boeing 747-3B5 departing from Gimpo International Airport crashed while attempting to land at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam. Out of 254 people on board, 229 perished in the accident. This aircraft was notable for being Korea’s first B747 model with a Special Upper Deck (SUD) structure. Accident Sequence Normally, Airbus A300-600R was used for this route, but due to peak season demand, a larger Boeing 747-3B5 was deployed temporarily. The aircraft was scheduled to arrive at 1:42 PM Guam time, but heavy rain was falling in the area. The control tower notified the crew that the glide slope was inoperative due to maintenance. During the landing approach, a false glide slope signal was received in the cockpit, confusing the pilots. Consequently, altitude confirmation procedures were skipped, and the aircraft began descending more rapidly than regulations allowe...

 This is the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers on the island of Eilean Mòr, part of the Flannan Isles off the northern coast of Scotland, in 1900. The case is considered one of the most famous maritime mysteries along with the Mary Celeste. 1. Overview of the Incident To improve maritime safety in the rough waters of the North Sea, a lighthouse was constructed on Eilean Mòr. Although it was originally scheduled to be completed in three years, it was delayed and finally finished in December 1899. Three lighthouse keepers—Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur—were stationed there. On December 15, 1900, passing ships reported that the light from the lighthouse was no longer visible. Due to storms, the investigation team could not reach the island until December 26. No one was found on the island, and the lighthouse was in proper condition, with its last log entry dated December 15. 2. Theories on the Disappearance An inspection of the area revealed...

 The collapse of the Sampoong Department Store was an accident that occurred at 5:57 PM on June 29, 1995, in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. The building collapsed, injuring or killing 1,445 employees and customers. Debris, rubble, and dust scattered into the nearby Sampoong Apartments, Seoul High Court, and Umyeon-ro, injuring pedestrians in the vicinity. This disaster caused significant financial damage and loss of life. Immediately after the collapse, rescue operations involving the 119 Rescue Team, police, Seoul Metropolitan Government, the military, and the national government were initiated, followed by nationwide relief efforts and post-accident handling. There were 502 deaths, 937 injuries, and 6 missing persons. The estimated damage was about 270 billion KRW. Among the survivors, Choi Myung-seok, Yoo Ji-hwan, and Park Seung-hyun were rescued after being trapped for 11, 13, and 17 days, respectively. The site of the Sampoong Department Store was redeveloped into the mixed-us...

  2002 South Korea Railway Chain Accident: "Saemaulho 162" On May 1, 2002, South Korea witnessed a series of railway accidents that would go down in history as one of the most bizarre and tragic incidents. The event resulted in three fatalities from a single train, a case that remains unparalleled globally. Incident Overview The train in question was the old Saemaulho #162, which had departed from Yeosu Station on the Jeolla Line at 10:20 AM, scheduled to arrive at Seoul Station at 3:51 PM. The accident began less than 30 minutes after departure when the first fatality occurred. First Incident: Yeohung Crossing near Yulchon Station At 10:46 AM, 26 minutes after departure from Yeosu Station, the first accident occurred near Yulchon Station on the Jeolla Line. An 81-year-old woman was struck and killed by the train at Yeohung Crossing. At this point, it seemed like a typical crossing accident, but it was only the beginning of the series. Second Incident: Ikokcheon Bridge near S...

 The Sungnyemun Arson Incident (崇禮門放火事件) took place from February 10 to February 11, 2008, when the Sungnyemun gate was completely destroyed by arson. The arsonist was identified as 69-year-old Chae Jong-ki from Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, who was arrested and convicted. The fire broke out around 8:40 PM on February 10, 2008. Chae Jong-ki reportedly poured gasoline and ignited it with a lighter, which caused the fire to start on the second floor of Sungnyemun. The fire spread quickly, and despite efforts by 32 fire trucks and 128 firefighters to suppress the flames, the second floor collapsed at around 12:40 AM the next day. The fire spread to the first floor, and within five hours, the entire structure, except for the stone foundation, was destroyed. Approximately 90% of the second-floor gatehouse and 10% of the first-floor gatehouse were damaged. During the fire suppression, the plaque hanging on the gate was removed by firefighters, but it was damaged during the process. The plaque, whi...

 The Challenger space shuttle disaster, one of the most tragic events in the history of the U.S. space shuttle program, occurred on January 28, 1986. STS-51-L, the 25th mission of NASA's shuttle program, was an ambitious project with objectives such as expanding satellite communications, remote education, and observing Halley's Comet. However, just 73 seconds after liftoff, the shuttle exploded, resulting in the death of all seven crew members. Background of the Mission This mission was part of NASA's "Teacher in Space" program, with civilian teacher Christa McAuliffe selected to conduct science experiments and remote lessons from space. The program, initiated in 1985, selected McAuliffe from over 12,000 applicants, garnering significant public attention. Simultaneously, NASA faced pressure to meet the rare opportunity of observing Halley's Comet. The launch schedule faced multiple delays due to prior mission setbacks, weather conditions, and technical issues,...

 On January 23, 1971, a hijacking incident occurred when a Korean Air Fokker F27, with 55 passengers and 5 crew members aboard, was hijacked while en route from Sokcho to Gimpo. The plane was forced into a crisis when a hijacker, Kim Sang-tae, armed with bombs, took control of the aircraft at an altitude of 10,000 feet over Hongcheon. The hijacker demanded that the pilots turn the aircraft towards North Korea. Despite the dire situation, the quick thinking and courage of the crew members and passengers averted a disaster. This event became a turning point in highlighting the sacrifices made by individuals in times of extreme crisis. Kim Sang-tae, holding bombs, threatened the pilots to change the plane's course toward North Korea. The pilots pretended to comply with the hijacker’s demands, but in reality, they were waiting for emergency intervention from the South Korean Air Force. Two F-5 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept the aircraft. In the meantime, the cabin crew, incl...

 The 1·21 Incident (also known as the Kim Shin-jo Incident) occurred on January 21, 1968, when 31 armed soldiers from North Korea's 124th Unit attempted to assassinate President Park Chung-hee by infiltrating the Blue House, but the attempt failed. On the night of January 17, the infiltrators crossed the Demilitarized Zone and reached near the Blue House by 9:30 PM on January 21. When they were discovered by police during a routine checkpoint near Cheongun-dong, a gunfight ensued. A joint military and police operation was carried out to capture them. In the end, 29 of the 31 infiltrators were killed, one escaped to North Korea, and one was captured alive. During this operation, 30 civilians were killed, and 52 were injured. As a result of the incident, South Korea created the Civil Defense Reserve, the Army 3rd Military Academy, the Combat Police Force, and the 684th Unit. Civilian access to the areas near the Blue House, including Inwangsan and Bukaksan, was restricted for enhance...

 In October 1970, a mysterious carcass was washed up on the coast of Massachusetts in the northeastern United States, attracting considerable attention. At the time of its discovery, the carcass had already undergone significant decomposition, and its size was striking: it measured 6 meters in length and weighed around 2 tons. Its appearance was described as resembling a plesiosaurus, while some witnesses even compared it to a camel with its legs cut off. What stood out the most were the small head and long neck, with two large, fin-like appendages attached to the body. However, the carcass was so decomposed that its shape was unclear, leading to various interpretations. Some people believed it could be the remains of a plesiosaurus or an ancient sea creature. Given the advanced state of decay, these interpretations are likely based more on imagination than scientific evidence. The most widely accepted theory, however, is that the carcass was that of a heavily decomposed basking sh...

 On January 19, 2013, the "Attempted Gas Gun Terror Attack on the Bulgarian Opposition Leader" occurred in Sofia, Bulgaria, targeting Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the opposition party Movement for Rights and Freedoms at the time. The incident began when a young man stormed the stage while Dogan was giving a speech in Sofia, aiming a self-defense gas gun at Dogan’s head. However, the gun misfired, and Dogan quickly reacted, turning the situation around. The two exchanged a brief glance, but in the end, the attacker was subdued and dragged out of the venue. This moment became a viral meme on YouTube for a while. The attacker, Oktay Enimehmedov, was a 25-year-old young man of Turkish descent from Burgas, a city near the Black Sea in Bulgaria. He was a member of an anti-party group called "I Hate Dogan," and had a criminal history involving drug possession, theft, and assault. The gas gun he used was a self-defense weapon with no ammunition, and despite pulling the trigge...

 In 2015, a group of five Koreans killed a Korean woman, Lee Mi-ra (41), by beating her in a hotel room in Frankfurt, Germany. The motive for the incident was a Protestant exorcism ritual, as the group believed that Lee was possessed by evil spirits and sought to drive them out. The sequence of events is as follows: Lee Mi-ra, her husband Nam Hak-kyu (42), their two sons (15 and 13), along with Min Ji-young (41) and her two sons (15 and 14), and Mr. Kim (44) with his children (a 21-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter), totaling ten people, arrived in Germany. They rented a house in the western part of Frankfurt am Main, avoiding contact with the outside world and not speaking English or German. Neighbors reported witnessing the group praying loudly at night, making strange noises. A week after their arrival in Germany, Lee's younger son began to claim that he was possessed by a ghost. Mr. Kim believed this and suggested that the group perform an exorcism. When Lee's second ...

 On March 26, 1991, five elementary school students living in the Seongseo area of Daegu (currently Daegu Metropolitan City), went missing after climbing Waryong Mountain to collect salamander eggs. Eleven and a half years later, on September 26, 2002, their skeletal remains were discovered. Due to a media error, the salamander eggs were initially reported as frog eggs, leading the children to be widely known as the "Frog Boys." The case, which failed to identify the victims or the perpetrator for years, gained national attention but was buried due to a combination of the era's issues and misdirected investigations. This incident, along with the Hwaseong Serial Murders and the Lee Hyun-ho Kidnapping and Murder case, is considered one of South Korea's three most infamous unsolved cases. While the Hwaseong Serial Murders eventually led to a breakthrough with DNA evidence, and the Lee Hyun-ho case had clear motives and suspects, the "Frog Boys" case remained a ...

 Hakamada Iwao (born March 10, 1936) is a former professional boxer from Japan who was convicted of murdering a family of four and committing arson in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 1966, while working at a miso factory. He was sentenced to death in 1980. Although Hakamada initially confessed to the crime after his arrest, he later claimed that the confession was coerced under torture and maintained his innocence from the beginning of his trial. Hakamada's sister, Hideko, advocated for his innocence and began seeking a retrial in 1981. However, the Supreme Court rejected her petition in March 2008 after 27 years. But in April of the same year, a second retrial petition was filed, and in the course of the retrial, it was revealed that the DNA from bloodstains found on the clothing allegedly belonging to the perpetrator did not match Hakamada’s. The court also pointed out evidence tampering by the authorities. On March 27, 2014, Hakamada’s death sentence was suspended, and a r...

 On July 25, 1991, a child disappearance case occurred in Funahikimachi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. This case is considered one of the "three major unresolved child disappearance cases" in Japan. It remains one of the few cases where a strong suspect is identified, though it remains unsolved. On that day, the house of Kenichi Ishii, a construction worker, was filled with his parents, wife Yoshiko, two sons Kento and Leo, daughter Mai, Kenichi's niece, her boyfriend K, and two daughters of Yoshiko’s friends. In the afternoon, Kenichi’s parents went to karaoke, and Mai and the other two children spent time playing games in K’s room. At around 10:30 PM, Yoshiko entered the children’s room to cover them with a blanket. Then, she went to the second-floor bathroom, where she saw K leaving the house. She didn’t think much of it and continued with her bath. Afterward, she heard a sound of a door closing and someone climbing the stairs, but she didn’t investigate further. She fi...

<E.T.> is a game developed for the Atari 2600, based on the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . Despite the movie's popularity, the game is considered one of the "worst games" in video game history and is seen as a major cause of the "Atari Shock." Atari Shock refers to the negative impact this game had on the video game industry, leading to a major crisis in the industry, particularly due to Atari's massive inventory issues at the time. The game involves E.T. traveling through various areas to collect parts of a communication device to return to an alien spaceship. Although the game was developed under a tight deadline, leading to mixed reviews, it was criticized for its unintuitive and unwelcoming gameplay, along with repetitive elements that made it frustrating for many players. However, the true legend of this game lies in the story of the returned cartridges after its release. There were rumors that a large quantity of unsold game cartridges we...

 On the evening of November 22, 1987, as the skies of Chicago darkened and the night descended, people were going about their usual routines. However, that night, they were about to be shaken by an event no one could have foreseen. Twice, an unknown figure hijacked the airwaves of two broadcast stations, leaving behind a mystery that remains unsolved to this day. The first incident occurred around 9 PM during WGN-TV's sports news broadcast. As anchor Dan Roan was presenting the sports updates, suddenly, the screen flickered, and an eerie figure appeared. This figure wore a "Max Headroom" mask and stood before a strange, unsettling background. For about 25 seconds, the figure spoke incoherently, making nonsensical statements, and performing bizarre actions. His speech was unclear, and the audio was garbled, making it difficult to comprehend. After about 20 seconds, the engineers quickly cut the broadcast. The anchor, visibly puzzled, remarked, "I don’t know what happe...

 On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Capitol was stormed by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Their aim was to prevent the certification of the 46th U.S. presidential election results and to overturn Trump's loss. After a rally hosted by Trump, thousands of his supporters marched down Pennsylvania Avenue and breached the Capitol. They attempted to obstruct the counting of electoral votes and stop the formal certification of Joe Biden's victory as president-elect. The rioters broke into the Capitol, occupying and destroying parts of the building. The protesters breached police barriers, clashed with the Capitol Police, and took control of the Capitol. The attack resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries. Additionally, makeshift explosive devices were found, and both the Capitol and surrounding buildings were shut down. Some rioters attempted to take Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi hostage, with chants calling for Pence to be hanged. Trump i...