Fishing boat capsizes off Jeju; 9 rescued, 2 missing

On Monday, a fishing vessel carrying 11 individuals capsized in the waters off Jeju, the southernmost resort island of South Korea. The incident resulted in the rescue of nine people, while two others remain missing. The 29-ton coastal longline fishing boat capsized approximately 65 kilometers northwest of Chagwi Island at 3:04 a.m., as reported by the Jeju Coast Guard.

Nearby fishing vessels assisted in the rescue, successfully saving eight Indonesian and one Vietnamese crew members. All rescued individuals were found to be in stable condition. The Korean captain and one Indonesian crew member are currently unaccounted for.

The Coast Guard swiftly dispatched helicopters and patrol vessels to the affected area to initiate search and rescue operations. In addition, one Navy vessel and several civilian fishing boats were mobilized to support the rescue efforts. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook directed authorities to mobilize all available personnel and equipment to prioritize the rescue operation. She also emphasized the need to accurately confirm the number of people aboard the vessel to aid in identifying any missing individuals.