CEBU, Philippines - A Korean national died while diving at a water intake channel Tuesday afternoon to try to fix a leak in a cooling water pump area of a power plant in Cebu province.

Kim Dongwoon, 34-year-old Korean national, was working as site manager of Conclinic Company, a sub-contractor of Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction which is the contractor for Kepco’s coal-fired power plant in Naga, Cebu.

Jun Tisoy, a co-worker of Dongwoon, said that the Korean national insisted on fixing the leakage in the cooling water pump area himself.

“When we tested the pump, and the vacuum started working, he was probably taken to the water pond which is really deep. He must have lost oxygen in his tank and drowned,” he said.

Tisoy said that he and other workers started to feel worried when the victim failed to surface after 15 minutes. They then stopped the machine and conducted a search and rescue for Dongwoon.

After his body was recovered, the Korean national was immediately taken to South General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigators of Naga Police Station said that Dongwoon was advised not to conduct any repairs in the water intake channel while the cooling water pump is still working. Dongwoon, however, allegedly insisted.

Senior Police Officer 3 Daniel Tanucar, meanwhile, said they discovered that Dongwoon’s working permit from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) already expired November 2009 and was not renewed. His temporary working visa also expired last year.

Police also found out that Dongwoon identified himself to DOLE as the treasurer for Conclinic not a site manager or a diver for piping.

“Aside from the fact that Dongwoon was working without valid permits, he also worked not in line with his skills. He came here as a treasurer who works in the office, not as a diver for fixing pipes,” said Tanucar.

DOLE is still investigating the incident.

Safety Engineer Jeffrey Auxillo, meanwhile, refused to give any comment on the incident.

The members of the victim’s family have arrived in Cebu and are asking authorities to conduct an autopsy on Dongwoon’s body.