A 40-year-old Korean man visiting Tonga has died of natural causes, police confirm.
Tonga Police reported that the man, who resided in Australia, was found deceased in his hotel room in Nuku’alofa on the morning of Friday, 18 April 2025. He had arrived in Tonga on 16 April and was scheduled to depart the same day he was found.
A thorough investigation by local authorities determined no criminal activity was involved. An autopsy conducted by an Australian pathologist on 25 April confirmed the cause of death as cardiac arrest.
The man’s body has been released to his family.
This incident follows a separate case in 2012, where a New Zealand police officer died after an assault in a Tongan police cell, leading to murder charges against a civilian and assault charges against two officers.
Tonga Police continue to work with international partners to ensure the safety of visitors and uphold the integrity of their investigations.
