Person in Their 50s Found Dead a Day After Going Missing While Fishing off Busan New Port

The Coast Guard is searching for a crew member presumed missing from a fishing boat. [Photo provided by Changwon Coast Guard]

A person in their 50s who went out aboard a fishing boat and went missing in waters near Busan New Port was found dead the day after they disappeared.

Changwon Coast Guard in South Gyeongsang Province said it received a report at 10:19 a.m. on October 15 that a passenger aboard a 7-ton fishing boat registered in Busan had gone missing.

The boat had departed Sinho Port at 5:25 p.m. on October 14 with 11 people aboard in total: two crew members, including the captain, and nine passengers.

They had been fishing in waters near Namhyeongje Islands and arrived at Sinho Port in Gangseo-gu, Busan, at 5:13 a.m. on October 15. They then noticed that passenger A, who was in their 50s, had not been seen disembarking.

The captain found A's personal belongings on board and tried calling A, but could not reach them, so the captain reported the case to the Coast Guard.

A was reportedly aboard wearing a life jacket when the headcount was taken at 3:45 a.m. that day.

The Coast Guard dispatched one helicopter, eight vessels and four coastal rescue boats, along with one fire department helicopter and two vessels from related agencies, to search for the missing person.

At around 12:30 p.m. on October 16, A was found dead in the water, wearing a life jacket, about 9.66 km east of Daebyeon Port in Gijang-gun, Busan.

The Coast Guard is investigating the exact circumstances of the incident, including interviewing the captain.

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