Passenger ferry carrying 267 people runs aground off S. Korea, no serious casualty expected

Members of the coast guard conduct rescue work after a passenger ferry ran aground in waters off western South Korea, Nov. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

A passenger ferry carrying 267 people on Wednesday ran aground in waters off western South Korea, according to the coast guard.

It was reported to the coast guard around 8:17 p.m. local time (1117 GMT) that the 26,546-ton passenger ferry with 246 passengers and 21 crew members on board went aground in waters near an island of Sinan county, about 310 km southwest of the capital Seoul.

The ferry, which had left the southern resort island of Jeju, was heading to the southwestern port city of Mokpo.

The vessel ran onto a submerged rock while approaching the island.

The coast guard, which dispatched patrol boats to the scene, expected no serious casualties as no flooding was found from the grounded ferry, according to Yonhap news agency.

The ferry passengers were being transported to Mokpo city, and five of them allegedly sustained minor injuries.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, gave orders to swiftly handle the accident and publicly disclose rescue situations in real time.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok ordered the coast guard and relevant authorities to immediately deploy all available vessels and equipment for the rapid and safe rescue of all passengers.