Ferry carrying 267 people runs aground off the coast of South Korea

Yonhap quoted the coast guard as saying that the Queen Jenuvia II ran aground near Jangsan Island in Sinan County, 366 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 8:17 p.m. on November 19. The ferry was carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members on its way from the resort island of Jeju to the port city of Mokpo.

The ferry is believed to have run aground near the uninhabited island as it approached waters off Jangsan Island. Coast Guard officials said they found a hole in the bow of the ferry.

This photo provided by the Mokpo Coast Guard shows officers assisting passengers on the Queen Jenuvia II ferry that ran aground near Jangsan Island in Sinan County, on Nov. 19, 2025. Photo: Yonhap.

"There was a loud noise, then the ferry tilted," a passenger on the ferry recounted the incident on social media.

Upon receiving the news, the coast guard immediately dispatched patrol boats to the scene to ensure the safety of passengers and crew and transfer those on the ferry to a nearby pier.

All 267 passengers and crew members were safely rescued. Photo: Yonhap.

Children, pregnant women and the elderly were taken off the ferry first, while other passengers and crew wearing life jackets waited their turn.

Authorities said the ferry was carrying 118 vehicles and 246 passengers at the time of the accident. All 267 people were rescued safely, with five passengers suffering minor injuries in the accident.

After receiving notification of the accident, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung immediately instructed the authorities to respond quickly to prevent any loss of life and release updates on rescue operations.

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