0
Vessels from the Republic of Korea Navy 3rd Fleet and the Maritime Task Fleet conduct maritime maneuvers during a comprehensive fleet combat exercise in the South Sea last June. This image is for illustrative purposes only and is unrelated to the specific article. / Photo courtesy of Yonhap News Agency.

Missing Navy sailor unaccounted for up to 8 hours before morning roll call

The Republic of Korea Navy has confirmed that it failed to track the whereabouts of a frigate crew member for at least six to eight hours before he was found dead near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding lax personnel management and safety inspection protocols aboard naval vessels.

The Navy disclosed these details during a routine press briefing held on July 13 at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, Seoul.

According to military officials, the sailor went missing on July 12 in waters approximately 50 kilometers east of Geojin in the East Sea. Following an intensive search operation, the Navy recovered his body at around 5:58 AM on July 13, roughly 52 kilometers east of Geojin.

The deceased sailor held the rank of Seaman Apprentice. He had reportedly completed a four-hour shift from 8:00 PM to midnight on July 12 before turning in for rest. However, the Navy remained completely unaware of his disappearance until he failed to report for his next shift at 7:45 AM on July 13.

"A patrol guard testified to encountering the sailor in a ship passageway sometime between midnight and 2:00 AM on July 13," a military official stated. "However, the precise time of this sighting has not been determined." Even if the last confirmed sighting is assumed to be 2:00 AM, the sailor's whereabouts remained unknown for nearly six hours leading up to the morning assembly.

Furthermore, a fellow crew member sharing the same berth testified to seeing the sailor leave the sleeping quarters in athletic wear at around 0:15 AM. Based on this account, the period during which the sailor went unnoticed extends to approximately seven and a half hours.

The testimony from the patrol guard also lacked clarity. "The guard cannot precisely recall whether the sighting occurred between midnight and 0:20 AM, or between 2:00 AM and 2:20 AM," said Navy Public Affairs Officer Oh Mo.

The Navy explained that the unique nature of shipboard duty makes it difficult to track resting crew members in real time. When asked whether patrol guards routinely check berths to account for personnel, Officer Oh noted the distinction between ground forces and naval ships. "Unlike ground units, naval vessels are divided into numerous compartments where crew members sleep. Patrol guards focus on inspecting hazardous areas and the overall status of the ship rather than conducting a head count," Oh explained. He added, "Personnel checks are conducted in the morning. The sailor was scheduled to assemble by 7:45 AM for an 8:00 AM shift, and his absence led to the discovery that he was missing."

Although closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed inside the vessel, the areas where the sailor is presumed to have moved fell into blind spots, hindering efforts to trace his exact movements and determine the circumstances of his disappearance.

"We pray for the soul of the sailor who lost his life and express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family," the Navy stated regarding the tragedy. "We are deeply sorry for causing public concern." The military added, "Upon confirming the disappearance, we deployed maximum available joint forces to conduct the search and recover the body. The civilian police and military investigative authorities will jointly conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances and cause of death."

                                                                                                             Lee Han-sol