On May 13, Lee Juho, Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Education, issued an urgent directive after receiving a report that a fishing vessel was sinking off the coast of Seogwipo, Jeju. He ordered, "Prioritize the rescue of human lives above all else."
Lee stated, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard must prioritize the rescue of human lives in cooperation with patrol vessels and nearby fishing boats, and make every effort to accurately confirm the number of people on board."
He also urged, "The Ministry of National Defense and the Governor of Jeju Province should actively support the rescue operation by providing all available personnel and equipment, ensuring that on-site rescue activities proceed smoothly."
Lee further instructed, "In particular, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should swiftly establish a cooperative system with neighboring countries and do everything possible to rescue lives."
According to the Korea Coast Guard, at approximately 6:11 p.m. on this day, a report was received that a coastal longline fishing vessel, A-ho (29 tons), registered in Moseulpo, was sinking in the East China Sea, 563 kilometers southwest of Seogwipo, Jeju. There were eight people on board: the captain is Korean, and the other seven are reportedly Indonesian nationals.
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