A missing South Korean tourist was found dead on a volcano in Indonesia.

Kyeungdam Oh, 31, allegedly flouted safety regulations when he hiked by himself up Mount Agung in the Karangasem Regency on holiday island Bali on January 1 morning.

He called his friend for help saying he was lost some 6,600 feet (2,000 metres) above sea level, before his cellphone became unreachable.

Rescue teams from the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian Armed Forces, local police, and volunteers launched a search after being notified by the South Korean consulate.

They scoured the volcano, but poor weather and rocky terrain hampered the search.

The operation continued until Friday, January 3, when officers finally found the backpacker's lifeless body smashed against rocks.

I Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, said: 'Search rescue unit 1 which was dispatched from Pura Pasar Agung temple at around 7 am found the victim's body lying face down while combing the Pasar Agung hiking trail. The body had fallen from around 330 feet (100 metres).

'There was an open wound on the head, possibly from a hard impact on the rocks. The victim was found with his head down and his feet up. We believe he had died from a fall.'

Kyeungdam's body was received by his grieving family, including his wife, at the base of the mountain. It was then taken to the Karangasem Regional Hospital for a post-mortem exam before being handed over to the South Korean Embassy for repatriation.

I Wayan Suara Arsana, public relations officer at the Pura Pasar Agung temple, claimed Kyeungdam had refused to hire a tour guide, despite the staff's insistence.

Mount Agung is an active stratovolcano and the highest peak on Bali. It is considered a sacred mountain revered by religious locals as the home of deities.

Kyeungdam's case is the second major rescue mission on Mount Agung over the holidays.

On December 28, Indonesian tourist Ridho Adi Yudistira was saved following a frantic two-day rescue on the volcano. He was found alive 5,600 feet above sea level with a fractured leg and ribs after plunging into a ravine.

Local authorities have been urging visitors of Mount Agung to hire experienced guides to prevent mishaps during their hikes.