Two Arrested Following Ferry Grounding off South Korean Coast – 18 November 2025

On 18 November 2025, the Korea-flagged ferry Queen Jenuvia II ran aground on rocky shallows near Jogdo Island off the southwestern coast of South Korea while sailing from Jeju Island to Mokpo. All 267 passengers and crew were safely evacuated; 27 people sustained minor injuries from the impact and were treated locally, with no fatalities reported.

Following the incident, the Korean Coast Guard arrested the helmsman and first mate on charges of gross negligence resulting in injury. The captain remains under formal investigation for potential supervisory negligence. The vessel has been moved to a nearby port for inspection and damage assessment.

The grounding occurred on the morning of 18 November 2025, when the ferry struck rocky shallows near the uninhabited Jogdo Island in Shinan County. Emergency rescue teams and coast guard vessels responded immediately, assisting in stabilizing the ferry and transferring passengers to safety. All 267 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, with passengers instructed to don life jackets and assemble on the upper deck following a sharp list to one side.

Total onboard

• 267 passengers and crew members safely evacuated.

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• 27 people sustained minor injuries from the impact and were treated locally; all injured passengers have been released from hospital.

Rescued

• All 267 passengers and crew safely evacuated.

Emergency rescue teams and coast guard vessels responded immediately to the grounding. Passengers were instructed to don life jackets and assemble on the upper deck. According to survivor accounts, the incident prompted calm and orderly evacuation, with many passengers drawing on lessons from the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

The Korean Coast Guard arrested the helmsman and first mate on charges of gross negligence resulting in injury. The helmsman initially claimed a steering malfunction caused the accident but later admitted his attention had been diverted by his mobile phone, causing him to miss a crucial navigational waypoint. The captain remains under formal investigation for potential supervisory negligence. South Korean maritime regulators are reviewing the ferry company's compliance with safety and training requirements.

The Queen Jenuvia II remains under technical inspection to determine the extent of hull and mechanical damage. The ferry operator faces possible administrative penalties pending the investigation outcome. Ferry operations on the route have resumed under increased oversight.