8 Chinese caught trying to enter S. Korea illegally by boat: Coast Guard
The Coast Guard captures an unidentified boat off the west coast, Monday, in this photo provided by the Coast Guard. Yonhap
Eight Chinese nationals were caught attempting to enter South Korea illegally by boat off the country's west coast, the Coast Guard said Monday.
An unidentified boat was reported off the west coast at 11:38 p.m. Sunday and captured at around 1:43 a.m. the following day, about 40 kilometers northwest of Gauido Island, according to the Coast Guard.
The small leisure boat carrying the eight people was towed to a port in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province.
One passenger jumped into the water during the seizure but was soon rescued, authorities said.
The Coast Guard said the group departed from Weihai in eastern Shandong Province at around 10 a.m. Sunday, about 300 km west of South Korea's coast, in an attempt to enter the country illegally to find jobs.
They allegedly disguised themselves as anglers, carrying four fishing rods, food and water on board.
The Coast Guard said it plans to seek arrest warrants for the eight on charges of violating the Immigration Control Act.