On the 8th, President Yoon Suk-yeol directed officials to fully utilize all available resources and personnel for searching and rescuing individuals involved in the shipwreck incident that occurred off the coast of Jeju, while also ensuring the safety of the rescue team. According to Presidential Office Spokesperson Jung Hye-jeon, President Yoon received reports regarding the incident and issued these instructions to related agencies, including the Korea Coast Guard, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
An image from the Jeju Coast Guard showed ongoing search efforts for missing persons after a fishing boat carrying 27 people sank in the waters off Jeju. At approximately 4:33 AM, a report was received by the coast guard that the 129-ton purse seiner Geumseongho, registered in Busan, was sinking about 24 kilometers northwest of Biyangdo in Jeju. According to the coast guard, Geumseongho had 27 crew members on board (16 Koreans and 11 foreigners) as per the port entry and exit management system. Currently, 15 individuals have been rescued by nearby vessels and brought to Jeju’s Hallim Port.
Out of those rescued, two individuals were unconscious, while 13 were conscious. All rescued crew members were transported to nearby hospitals. Twelve others remain missing, and the coast guard continues searching for them. The search efforts involve 14 coast guard vessels, coastal rescue boats, rescue teams, four helicopters, three affiliated agency vessels, two helicopters, and eight civilian fishing boats.
The coast guard confirmed that the Geumseongho has completely sunk. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also issued urgent instructions to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Korea Coast Guard to mobilize all available vessels, and the ships and boats operating nearby for prompt human rescue efforts.
The prime minister also requested the Ministry of National Defense to assist with lighting flares for night searches and deploy aircraft to maximize support for the coast guard’s rescue operations. He emphasized ensuring the safety of rescue teams throughout the search and rescue process.