Officials from the Sokcho Haeyang Police Agency presented commendations on April 16 to four private vessel operators who aided in searching for missing individuals during a major maritime operation in Sokcho’s Dongmyeongdong area.
Heroic Discovery Amid Nationwide Search
These operators, including those from the largest fishing vessels and Sokcho’s commercial fleets, participated in real-name tracking efforts for accident victims. Among them, the captain of the ferry Baewoo Ha Jae-sook played a pivotal role. He located one of the 70 captains reported missing nationwide.
The discovery occurred on April 8 at around 2:14 p.m. near a 1 km point from Sokcho’s large vessel accident site, at a depth of about 20 meters. Using full nationwide cell phone data, the captain identified the victim. Although initial confirmation revealed a case of mistaken identity, he persisted with personal searches.
Public Gratitude and Continued Efforts
The captain, husband of actress Ha Jae-sook, shared his relief on Instagram on April 9. “The captain who went missing during the exhaustive search turned out to be my husband—he came back safe,” he posted. He added, “I hope there are no more such incidents. Please stay safe out there, captains.”
Even after the find, Baewoo Ha Jae-sook remains active at sea. Sources confirm the vessel attended the scene with the president’s fishing boat and earned a separate maritime safety commendation.
The Sokcho Coast Guard chief stated, “The voluntary efforts and public sympathy from these private operators provide immense hope for safe fishing practices.” He emphasized, “Through close collaboration between civilians and authorities, we aim to ensure the utmost safety even from afar.”
