3 of 10 dead, missing sailors are foreign: data
Government data showed Monday that 29.6 percent of all fishing boat crew that died or went missing here last year were non-Koreans, sparking calls to ensure the safety of foreign sailors in the country.
A total of 118 crew members went dead or missing while working on fishing boats in 2024, 35 of whom were foreign nationals, according to data provided by the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives. The number of foreign sailors who went missing or died at sea went from 16 in 2019 -- the first year the government started tallying the figure -- to 13 in 2023, but shot up last year.
It was reported that a total of 14,819 foreigners worked as sailors on fishing boats last year, up from 12,600 in 2018.
South Korea has had a number of maritime accidents that claimed the lives of multiple foreign sailors. An onboard fire at a fishing boat in waters off the coast of Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, left seven dead or missing, five of whom were foreigners.
Two Indonesian sailors went missing in the November capsizing and sinking of a fishing boat in waters off Jeju Island, which is thought to have occurred because the ship was carrying too much fish.
In response to the rising number of foreign sailors' deaths, the Oceans Ministry has launched a task force on safety measures. This includes reinforcing safety education for foreigners.
The NFFC has been providing nonmandatory safety education for foreigners since 2020, recipient of which went from 324 in 2020 to 3,908 last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Remembering the sacrifices
Commemorating the 70th Memorial Day on Friday, bereaved families of soldiers and independence fighters who died during Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the 1950–53 Korean War paid tribute to their loved ones with white chrysanthemums, silent prayers and solemn tears. Established in April 1956, Memorial Day honors the sacrifices made not only by fallen soldiers but also by public servants who died in service to the nation. It was set for June 6 to align with "mangjong," one of the 24 seasonal divisions on the lunar calendar that signals the beginning of the planting season. Traditionally, Koreans viewed this time as a symbol of renewal and hope. In Daegu, Pabashi Mohan, daughter of Col. M.K. Unni Nayar, an Indian officer who was killed in action during the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter near Waegwan in the Korean War, laid flowers at a memorial service held at the Nayar Memorial in Beomeo-dong, Suseong District. Citizens visited Seoul Plaza to express gratitude for the sacrifices of veterans in front of a large banner on the outer wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Library that reads, 'We will remember the sacrifices of war veterans as a 'garden of gratitude.'" At Cheong Wa Dae, where the national flag was flown at half-staff, some visitors paused to observe a moment of silence during their tour.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] Remembering the sacrifices
Commemorating the 70th Memorial Day on Friday, bereaved families of soldiers and independence fighters who died during Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the 1950–53 Korean War paid tribute to their loved ones with white chrysanthemums, silent prayers and solemn tears. Established in April 1956, Memorial Day honors the sacrifices made not only by fallen soldiers but also by public servants who died in service to the nation. It was set for June 6 to align with "mangjong," one of the 24 seasonal divisions on the lunar calendar that signals the beginning of the planting season. Traditionally, Koreans viewed this time as a symbol of renewal and hope. In Daegu, Pabashi Mohan, daughter of Col. M.K. Unni Nayar, an Indian officer who was killed in action during the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter near Waegwan in the Korean War, laid flowers at a memorial service held at the Nayar Memorial in Beomeo-dong, Suseong District. Citizens visited Seoul Plaza to express gratitude for the sacrifices of veterans in front of a large banner on the outer wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Library that reads, 'We will remember the sacrifices of war veterans as a 'garden of gratitude.'"
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
USFK commander honors Korean War veterans on Memorial Day
\US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson paid tribute to veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War on Friday as South Korea marked Memorial Day. Brunson made the remark as he attended a Memorial Day ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery. "On this solemn occasion when we celebrate not only Republic of Korea Memorial Day, we're also reminded of the 75th anniversary of the UN Command and all the nations brought to bear that Koreans might live with freedom and prosperity," Brunson, who also serves as the UNC commander, said in a video message. "I'm thankful for all the veterans of the Korean War," he said. "I'm also thankful for all the U.N. member states and the sending states for all that they gave in blood and treasure that we might all live free." The UNC was established under a 1950 UN mandate to support South Korea against North Korean aggression during the three-year Korean War, which technically has never ended as a peace treaty was not signed. A total of 22 countries, including the United States, Britain and Australia, sent troops or medical support to the South during and right after the war. (Yonhap)
