A fishing boat capsized off the western coast of Taean in South Chungcheong Province, leaving three sailors dead and one missing. The incident occurred Thursday evening, with three crew members rescued shortly after, but two more bodies were found early Friday. The Coast Guard is intensifying the search for the missing captain.
On Thursday, December 4, 2025, at around 6:20 p.m., a 9.99-ton fishing boat capsized in waters about 2.5 kilometers northwest of Taean's Cheonripo port, off the western coast of Taean in South Chungcheong Province. Of the seven crew members aboard, three were rescued shortly after the accident, and one body was found on a nearby beach, initially leaving three missing.
Early Friday morning, at 2:07 a.m., a sailor in his 50s was discovered on Baeklipo Beach, approximately 140 kilometers south of Seoul, but was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Another sailor in his 40s was found near the vessel at 8:02 a.m., marking the third death. The sole remaining missing person is the ship's captain, also in his 40s.
The Taean Coast Guard has intensified the search, deploying 12 patrol ships, three coastal rescue boats, and four aircraft. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, briefed on the incident, instructed officials to mobilize all available resources for the rescue efforts. Early reports noted a slight discrepancy in the vessel's tonnage (9.77 tons), but later confirmations settled on 9.99 tons. A Coast Guard official stated, "We are continuing the search for the missing crew member." This tragedy underscores the perils of fishing in rough winter seas.
