Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on the 4th ordered, in connection with the capsizing of a fishing vessel in the northern waters off Mohang Port in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard should mobilize all available assets, including patrol ships and aircraft as well as fishing and merchant vessels operating near the accident sea area, to make every effort to rescue people and search for the missing."
Earlier, at about 6:20 p.m. that day, a 9.77-ton class fishing vessel carrying seven crew members capsized in waters near Cheollipo in Sowon-myeon, Taean County. Taean Coast Guard, which launched a rescue operation, rescued three crew members, and during the search for the remaining four, one person was rescued in cardiac arrest and was confirmed to be en route to a hospital. The other rescued crew members complained of hypothermia, but their lives were not in danger, according to reports.
The prime minister also asked the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of National Defense, South Chungcheong Province, and Taean County to "actively support personnel and equipment that can be deployed for maritime rescue so that on-site rescue activities can proceed smoothly." He also instructed the National Fire Agency to "establish a cooperation system with maritime rescue and support emergency measures for patients transported to land."
The prime minister in particular asked, "As a high seas warning for waves is in effect at sea and there is risk in rescue operations, make every effort to ensure the safety of rescue workers."
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung also said, "Thoroughly check the weather and sea conditions at the accident sea area and manage them rigorously to prevent secondary accidents," and urgently dispatched a Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) on-site situation manager for swift response and stabilization at the scene.