Seoul (Yonhap) — All 267 people aboard a passenger ferry that ran aground off South Korea’s western coast were safely rescued late Wednesday night, according to the coast guard.
The successful operation evacuated all 246 passengers and 21 crew members after the vessel struck a submerged object near Sinan county, approximately 310 kilometers southwest of the capital.
The 26,546-ton ferry, which was traveling from the southern resort island of Jeju to the port city of Mokpo, reported running aground around 8:17 p.m. local time (1117 GMT) on November 19, 2025.
The coast guard confirmed that the rescue was finalized by 11:27 p.m. local time, with three individuals sustaining minor injuries.
A breach was discovered at the bow of the vessel, though no internal flooding occurred. Passengers reported that they were instructed to don life vests and move to the top deck after the ferry tilted with a loud impact.
The coast guard mobilized 17 patrol vessels, four coastal rescue boats, one aircraft, and a specialized rescue team to manage the evacuation.
President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, ordered a swift, casualty-free response and public disclosure of rescue details in real time.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok directed relevant authorities to immediately deploy all available resources. The cause of the vessel running aground is under investigation.