Mokpo Coast Guard Arrests Arsonist After Persistent Pursuit

Mokpo Coast Guard is urgently extinguishing a fire that broke out on a vessel docked at Mokpo Port on the 8th. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Seo Young-seo] Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Im Jae-su) announced on the 25th that they have apprehended a man in his 40s, Mr. A, on suspicion of setting fire to a vessel docked in Mokpo Port and fleeing the scene.

Mr. A is suspected of setting fire to vessel B (29 tons, coastal gillnet) docked in Mokpo Port at 12:39 a.m. on the 8th, then fleeing, causing damage worth approximately 860 million KRW to three vessels, including fishing boats moored nearby.

The maritime police kept the possibility of arson open through fire investigation on the vessels and secured CCTV footage from inside and outside the port, as well as black box videos from vehicles nearby at the time. After detailed analysis, they detected signs of arson and, based on communication and inquiry investigations, relentlessly tracked Mr. A, finally arresting him at the Bukhang Pier in Mokpo City on the 21st.

On the 23rd, the maritime police obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of arson on a moored vessel. Mr. A confessed that while working as a crew member on vessel B, he entered the vessel under the influence of alcohol and set it on fire.

Further investigation into the motive for arson and other details will be completed before Mr. A is formally charged and sent to prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Mokpo Maritime Police quickly extinguished the fire and urgently evacuated surrounding vessels after detecting the fire from a patrol ship patrolling Mokpo Port at the time, preventing additional damage.

It is reported that no one was on the vessels at the time, so no casualties occurred.

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