Seoul, South Korea – The Korean Coast Guard successfully rescued all passengers and crew members on Wednesday after a ferry ran aground on an uninhabited island off the country’s southwest coast. The incident, which occurred on November 20, 2025, prompted a swift and decisive response from emergency services.

The vessel had departed from the southern Jeju Island on Wednesday, destined for the coastal city of Mokpo. Upon stranding, the Coast Guard immediately mobilised rescue vessels. A total of 246 passengers and 21 crew members, 267 individuals in all were safely transferred to a nearby port. Crucially, officials confirmed that no serious injuries were recorded among those evacuated.

In response to the emergency, President Lee Jae Myung ordered that rapid rescue efforts be exerted to ensure a safe outcome.

The successful operation is viewed through the lens of heightened national awareness of maritime safety, particularly in light of the country’s worst ever marine disaster in 2014, when a ferry carrying over 470 individuals many of them schoolchildren capsized, resulting in 304 fatalities. The quick action and safe outcome in this latest incident underscore improved emergency protocols and operational readiness.