Jeju fishing vessel capsizes leaving two missing

A 29-ton fishing vessel, the 7-seong-jin-ho, capsized in the waters northwest of Chagwido, Jeju, early on October 5. The vessel was carrying 11 people, including a South Korean captain and crew members from Indonesia and Vietnam.

Nine crew members, consisting of eight Indonesians and one Vietnamese, were rescued by nearby fishing vessels. While the survivors reported symptoms of hypothermia, they are reported to be in stable condition. However, the South Korean captain and one Indonesian crew member remain missing.

Investigations revealed a discrepancy in the vessel's official documentation; while the departure report listed only eight crew members, there were actually 11 people on board at the time of the accident. The Jeju Coast Guard, supported by helicopters and multiple vessels, is conducting search operations despite challenging weather conditions, including northwest winds of 12–14 m/s and waves exceeding 2 meters.

Government officials, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, have ordered the mobilization of all available resources to prioritize life-saving efforts and determine the exact cause of the capsizing.