Six Korean Crew Members on Ship Missing off Taiwan... Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Search Underway"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 8th that a vessel carrying six of our crew members was shipwrecked in the waters off Taiwan, and Taiwanese maritime search authorities are conducting a search.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The Taiwan Maritime Search and Rescue Center notified our government that it received a distress call from the 'Gyoto 1' around 9:50 a.m. on the 7th, approximately 18 nautical miles west of Taiwan." The Gyoto 1 has six crew members, all of whom are of our nationality.

The 322-ton Gyoto 1 was towing its auxiliary vessel, Gyoto 2, while sailing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Gyoto 2 was found at the scene, but Gyoto 1 is presumed missing.

Taiwanese authorities dispatched patrol boats and helicopters to the site immediately after receiving the distress call and are conducting search operations. They have also requested cooperation from vessels navigating nearby. Additionally, they have formed an emergency response team and are operating a 24-hour search system.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Our government will cooperate closely with Taiwanese authorities to ensure that the search and rescue operations proceed swiftly and without any setbacks, and we will do our utmost until the end."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated the Overseas Nationals Countermeasures Headquarters and the Taipei Representative Office's on-site command center, and the Korea Coast Guard has dispatched one patrol boat to the accident area.