Vehicle Falling into Jindo Sea... Captain and Village Residents Rescue Driver

Mokpo Coast Guard to Award Commendations to 3 Rescued Individuals

A passenger ferry captain and village residents became a topic of interest after rescuing a vehicle driver when a vehicle fell into the sea at the Dokgeo-do pier in Jindo, Jeollanam-do.

According to the Mokpo Coast Guard Station (Chief Kim Hae-cheol) on the 17th, a report was received on the 16th at 9:57 a.m. that a 1-ton truck aboard the passenger ferry Seom Sarang 9 (149t) at the Dokgeo-do pier in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, had fallen into the sea.

At Jindo Dokgeodo pier, when a vehicle fell into the sea, the ferry captain and village residents rescued the vehicle driver.
[Photo by Mokpo Maritime Police Station]

While the Mokpo Coast Guard immediately dispatched rescue forces including patrol vessels, Captain Kim Yong-su (33) of the passenger ferry Seom Sarang 9 and three village residents who witnessed the accident at the scene entered the water and safely rescued the vehicle driver using life rings and ropes.

Captain Kim Yong-su, who jumped into the rescue, said, “The truck was reversing toward the passenger ferry when it suddenly fell into the sea and was rapidly sinking. I entered the water with the intention of saving the person first and rescued the driver through the vehicle window.”

The rescued driver, Mr. A (in his 60s), was fortunately confirmed to have no health issues.

The Mokpo Coast Guard is conducting safety management around the accident site and checking for marine pollution, and plans to award certificates of appreciation to the captain of Seom Sarang 9 and the three people who participated in the rescue.