Minke whale fetches $28,000 at auction

The dead minke whale is lifted from a boat in waters off Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Korea Coast Guard

Police check the carcass to discover whether the animal was hunted. Courtesy of Korea Coast Guard

By Jung Min-ho

A 5.2-meter minke whale, which was found dead in waters off Namhae Wednesday, has been auctioned for 32.7 million won ($28,000).

The Korea Coast Guard said the two-ton animal was found in a fixed shore net half a mile south of the county, South Gyeongsang Province.

After inspecting the carcass, police said there were no signs it had been hunted.

The fisherman who set up the net received a certificate that enabled him to sell the whale.

Commercial whaling is banned in Korea, but retrieving dead whales is allowed.