Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung on the 19th ordered agencies including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, Jeollanam-do, and Sinan County to immediately deploy all vessels and equipment to rescue passengers quickly and safely in connection with the passenger ship grounding near Jangsando, Sinan County, South Jeolla.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Minister, along with this emergency directive, said to closely check the weather and sea conditions at the accident site and manage thoroughly to prevent secondary accidents.
At about 8:10 p.m. on the 19th, a passenger ship carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members ran aground near Jokdo, south of Jangsando. It was reported to be perched on a reef. The passenger ship had departed Jeju and was en route to Mokpo.
The Korea Coast Guard dispatched patrol boats to the scene to transfer passengers and others while checking for hull breaches and flooding. There is currently no known risk of sinking.