Fishing boat capsizes off Jeju; 9 rescued, 2 missing

A fishing vessel capsized off the coast of Jeju island, South Korea, early Monday morning, resulting in nine crew members being rescued and two still missing, according to the Jeju Coast Guard. The 29-ton coastal longline fishing boat was 65 kilometers northwest of Chagwi Island when it overturned at 3:04 a.m. The rescued crew comprised eight Indonesian nationals and one Vietnamese individual, all of whom were in stable condition.

The missing individuals include the Korean captain and one Indonesian crew member. Search and rescue operations were launched, with helicopters and patrol vessels dispatched to the area, along with a Navy vessel and several civilian fishing boats. The cause of the accident remains undetermined as of now. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook directed authorities to prioritize rescue efforts and called for a comprehensive investigation to accurately determine the number of people on board and identify the missing individuals.