Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Mon, December 4, 2023 | 16:00

Society

Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

Posted : 2023-10-03 11:27

Updated : 2023-10-04 15:15

Korean Coast Guard officials apprehend Chinese nationals attempting to illegally enter a coastal area in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, Oct. 3, in this photo provided by the Korea Coast Guard Station Boryeong. Yonhap

The Coast Guard apprehended 22 Chinese nationals Tuesday suspected of attempting to illegally enter a western coastal city by boat, officials said.

The group of Chinese nationals, known to be around their 40s, faces charges of attempting to flee after jumping off the vessel in waters near a port in Boryeong, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, at 1:53 a.m., according to the officials.

Coast Guard officials arrived at the scene after being tipped off by military authorities on the unidentified boat approaching waters near the coastal city.

While 21 of the Chinese nationals were caught near the port after swimming their way to the coast wearing life vests, one of them fled the scene.

The police later caught the individual in Ansan, 29 kilometers south of Seoul, and handed the person over to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard also went after the boat that smuggled the Chinese nationals, but the vessel left Korea's territorial waters at about 7:40 a.m.

It believes the boat came from China's eastern port city of Weihai and sent a request to Chinese authorities for cooperation in apprehending it.

A Coast Guard official said an investigation into the details of the crime has yet to take place as authorities are currently conducting a probe into the possibility of espionage. (Yonhap)

Top 10 Stories

1	INTERVIEWEcolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management

2	Son-dol: a cold day for a ferryman and a merchant

3	Seoul Metro begins real-time translation service for foreign tourists at Myeong-dong Station

4	Korean economy to start shrinking by 2050 if low birthrate unaddressed: BOK report

5	ANALYSISHas N. Korean leader's daughter been confirmed as heir apparent?

6	Space race heats up between two Koreas after Seoul launches spy satellite

7	INTERVIEW'Lifeline for migrant workers in Korea' - Rev. Kim fights for foreign employees' rights

8	Uncertainty lingers over Ven. Jaseung's death

9	INTERVIEWKorea to work with US, Japan to fight climate change

10	Korean battery firms face higher costs for access to US subsidies

Top 5 Entertainment News

1	JYP to host annual audition in January

2	Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International Festival

3	Popular talk show 'Strong Heart' returns with new format

4	How Lee Ung-no pioneered East-West fusion through brushstrokes

5	INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup

DARKROOM