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Sogwipo Mayor Lee Young-du (57) is among two people missing after a fishing vessel sank off the coast of Marad near Jeju Island on Saturday, killing three of the seven people on board. The other two were rescued. The accident took place when the seven went out to sea to take part in a yellowtail festival to promote the region's specialty.
The 3.8 ton, 8.7 m long fishing vessel captained by Kim Hong-bin (44) went down 3 km northwest of Marado at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The accident left three local government officials dead and Mayor Lee and captain Kim missing. Lee's secretary Yoon Se-myoung (40) who managed to find a plastic bottle to keep him afloat, was rescued together with another city official.
The two survivors said high waves rolled over the ship three or four times on the way back until the ship capsized. Lee was a running mate of Jeju Province Governor Kim Tae-hwan in local elections on May 31 this year and appointed Sogwipo mayor when Kim became governor. The Jeju governor appoints mayors of Jeju City and Sogwipo City, so no by-election will take place to fill the vacancy if Lee is confirmed dead. Police investigations reveal that the ship was overloaded and did not report before sailing.
Jeju Maritime Police said they were unable to confirm whether the vessel had the correct safety equipment since it did not report its departure. Police add they sent no escort since Sogwipo City made no official request.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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