Search Continues for Third Day for Missing Coast Guard Officer from Socheongdo Patrol Vessel... "Possibility of Slip Considered Significant"

A nighttime search is underway to find the missing coast guard officer.
[Photo by Central Coast Guard Headquarters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The search for a missing coast guard officer who disappeared during a patrol mission off Incheon Sochengdo Island in the northern West Sea has entered its third day.

According to the Central Regional Coast Guard Headquarters on the 12th, the coast guard is conducting a focused search in the waters near Sochengdo Island for A (27), a police officer belonging to the West Sea 5 Islands Special Guard Unit of the Central Regional Coast Guard, who went missing on the 518 patrol vessel, a 500-ton coast guard ship, on the 10th. He has not been found to date.

The search on this day involved 15 coast guard vessels, with six naval ships providing support. A total of eight aircraft from the coast guard and the navy and air force were deployed. Additionally, seven government vessels including fisheries guidance ships from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and six civilian fishing boats assisted in the search.

The coast guard plans to conduct a nighttime search starting at 6 p.m. with 22 vessels and four aircraft.

A coast guard official stated, "Since the search area is extensive, we will make every effort using searchlights installed on the ships and flares dropped from aircraft," adding, "We are continuously requesting cooperation through broadcasts to nearby vessels and fishing boats operating in the area."

Earlier, considering that the accident site is about 9 km south of the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea, the coast guard informed North Korea and China of the incident through relevant government agencies and requested cooperation in search and rescue operations.

Officer A went missing around 1 p.m. on the 10th after saying to a colleague, "I am going to the restroom," while on duty in the underground engine room of the vessel. There is no restroom in the underground engine room; it is located on the first floor.

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

CCTV installed inside the vessel captured Officer A walking toward the rear of the ship while on duty, but he disappeared from the CCTV blind spot afterward.

The coast guard plans to investigate the circumstances of the accident with vessel personnel, focusing on the possibility of an accidental fall based on various factors such as his clothing at the time of disappearance. They also intend to send the CCTV footage to the National Forensic Service for digital forensics.

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

The search for the missing coast guard officer during a patrol mission off the coast of Socheongdo has continued for the third day.
[Photo by Central Coast Guard Headquarters]

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