Missing Coast Guard Officer Who Said "I'll Be Back After Using the Restroom" on Sochungdo Maritime Patrol Vessel

The Coast Guard is searching for the missing person. The photo is not directly related to the article content.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] A 20-year-old coast guard officer went missing from a patrol vessel off the northern West Sea near Incheon’s Socheongdo Island, prompting the Coast Guard to launch a search operation.

According to the Central Regional Coast Guard on the 10th, around 1 p.m. that day, A (27), a police officer belonging to the West Sea 5 Islands Special Security Unit, went missing from the 500-ton patrol vessel 518, which was patrolling 30 km southeast of Socheongdo, Ongjin-gun, Incheon.

Officer A had been on duty in the engine room below deck since noon and disappeared after telling a colleague, "I’m going to the restroom." There is no restroom in the vessel’s engine room below deck; it is located on the first floor.

When Officer A did not return to the engine room about 30 minutes after going to the restroom, colleagues searched inside the patrol vessel but could not find him.

Officer A was assigned to the West Sea 5 Islands Special Security Unit in July this year and was reportedly responsible for operating the engine room on the 518 vessel.

The Coast Guard has deployed nine patrol vessels and three aircraft, including helicopters, to search the waters near Socheongdo. The Navy, responding to the Coast Guard’s request for cooperation, has also dispatched five vessels, including patrol ships, and one aircraft, while four government vessels are assisting in the search.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.