Seven Chinese Crew Members Who Brandished Weapons at Coast Guard Detained and Indicted

The Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office indicted seven Chinese fishing vessel crew members on the 22nd on charges including obstruction of official duties after they wielded weapons against Coast Guard officers cracking down on illegal fishing.

On the 29th of last month, around 9:39 p.m., the suspects boarded two 125-ton Chinese-flagged twin trawl fishing vessels respectively about 94 km west of Hongdo, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, and engaged in illegal fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

When Coast Guard officers from the Mokpo Maritime Police Station ordered them to stop and began enforcement, the suspects resisted by wielding weapons such as iron pipes and hooks before being apprehended.

A representative of the Mokpo Branch stated, "Considering the seriousness of the case, we will devote all efforts to maintaining the prosecution to ensure strict punishment commensurate with the crime."