On November 9th, 2025, the South Korean maritime police department reported that a Chinese fishing boat capsized near the island of Geoje in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The boat was carrying 11 people, with 6 rescued, 2 confirmed dead, and 3 missing. The Chinese Consulate General in Gwangju has confirmed the incident.
According to the report, at around 6:50 a.m. Seoul time on the 9th, the maritime police received a distress call about a 98-ton Chinese fishing boat carrying 11 crew members capsizing in the open sea about 81 kilometers west of Sinan County in South Jeolla Province. The maritime police immediately rushed to the scene to initiate rescue operations.
Prior to the arrival of the maritime police at the scene of the incident, another nearby Chinese fishing boat rescued 6 crew members from the capsized boat. Upon the arrival of the South Korean maritime police, they were able to rescue an additional 2 crew members. It is reported that the rescued 6 crew members are in good health, while the 2 crew members rescued were in cardiac arrest at the time.
According to reports in mainland Chinese media, all 11 crew members on the capsized fishing boat are Chinese nationals. The South Korean maritime police are currently cooperating with Chinese authorities to continue the search for the remaining 3 missing crew members.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by fishermen at sea and highlights the importance of prompt response and collaboration between maritime authorities in rescue operations. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected by this tragic event as efforts continue to locate the missing crew members and investigate the cause of the capsizing of the Chinese fishing boat off the coast of South Korea.