Two Dead, 12 Missing After South Korean Fishing Boat Sinks Near Jeju

A South Korean fishing boat, the 120-tonne Geumseong, sank off the coast near Jeju Island, leaving two people dead and 12 others missing, officials reported. The boat, which departed Seogwipo port on Thursday evening to catch mackerel, capsized about 24 kilometers (15 miles) offshore.

The crew included 27 members—16 South Koreans and 11 foreigners—with two foreign crew members among those unaccounted for. Around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, a distress signal was sent from a nearby vessel that attempted to assist the Geumseong, whose crew said it capsized during a catch transfer to another ship.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol directed all available resources and personnel to be mobilized for the search effort. The operation includes 11 coastguard and police vessels, nine aircraft, and 13 civilian boats, as they continue to search for survivors in the area.