Acting President Lee Ju-ho orders urgent rescue after fishing boat sinks off Jeju

May 14, 2025, 09:27 am

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Lee Ju-ho, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, also serving as Minister of Education / Source: Yonhap News

Lee Ju-ho, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, who also serves as Minister of Education, issued an emergency directive on May 13 urging all relevant ministries and agencies to prioritize search and rescue efforts after a fishing boat was reported sinking southwest of Jeju Island.

At approximately 6:11 p.m., authorities received a report that a vessel, presumed to be carrying eight crew members, was sinking 563 kilometers southwest of Seogwipo, Jeju. Upon receiving the briefing, Lee instructed the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, and the Ministry of National Defense to fully mobilize personnel and equipment for immediate rescue operations.

"The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Coast Guard must cooperate with patrol vessels and nearby fishing boats, and activate coordination with neighboring countries to maximize rescue efforts," Lee emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Seogwipo Coast Guard received the initial distress report and is working to verify whether any crew members have been rescued by nearby fleet vessels.

#Lee Ju-ho #Jeju