Kim Young-chul, Chief of Changwon Coast Guard, Oversees Safety Management at New Year's Sunrise Event Aboard Patrol Vessel

"This Year, We Will Do Our Best for Changwon Sea Safety Management"

Kim Young-cheol, Chief of the Changwon Maritime Police Station in Gyeongnam, personally boarded a patrol vessel on the first day of 2025, the Year of Eulsa (乙巳年), to oversee safety management at the sunrise viewing events.

Boarding Patrol Vessel 515, Chief Kim visited coastal waters expected to attract many sunrise viewers and major local sunrise viewing spots to direct safety management.

Kim Young-chul, Chief of the Changwon Coast Guard in Gyeongnam, is aboard a patrol vessel, directing safety management measures while observing a cruise ship carrying New Year's Day sunrise viewers on January 1, 2025. Photo by Changwon Coast Guard Station

Changwon Maritime Police announced that from 6:30 a.m. on the 1st, they operated a safety management situation command center for the sunrise events, deploying available equipment such as patrol vessels, patrol cars, and coastal rescue boats, along with 70 police officers, to 11 major local sunrise viewing spots including Geoga Bridge and Jinhae-ro, as well as the Masan Cruise Terminal.

Additionally, the Shinhang, Jinhae, Masan, and Gwangam police sub-stations under Changwon Maritime Police strengthened patrols in vulnerable areas such as major breakwaters, rocky shores, and harbors/ports during the sunrise events, maintaining emergency response and readiness to ensure safety in coastal waters.

Although official year-end and New Year sunrise events hosted by local governments such as Changwon City and Gyeongnam Province were fully canceled to participate in the national mourning period following the Jeju Air passenger plane accident and to express condolences to the deceased, individual or privately-led sunrise events proceeded in a calm atmosphere.

According to Changwon Maritime Police, 516 tourists used cruise ships for the sunrise viewing event on the Geoga Bridge on New Year’s Day, and many visitors also gathered at nearby seas such as Wonjeon, Gwisan Port, and Jinhae Marine Park to watch the first sunrise of the year.

Chief Kim said, “This year as well, we will do our best to maintain our original commitment and ensure safety management of coastal waters and vessels used by many people visiting the Changwon sea.”