Man who fled Coast Guard in South Chungcheong still on the run three days after escape
Published: 24 Apr. 2026, 11:34
![An AI-generated image of a man escaping from a boat by swimming [CHATGPT]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/24/806d891f-e172-41f2-b8dc-7a02656a8b31.jpg)
An AI-generated image of a man escaping from a boat by swimming [CHATGPT]
The Coast Guard belatedly learned that an undocumented migrant fled the authorities — while being transported inland by them — by jumping from a vessel. Though officials immediately pursued him, his whereabouts have remained unknown for three days.
According to the Coast Guard on Thursday, the Filipino national escaped in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong, at around 5:45 a.m. on Monday.
At the time, Coast Guard officers had detained two undocumented migrants, including the runaway, without handcuffs on a fishing boat and were transporting them when he jumped into the sea and swam away.
Two Coast Guard officers remained aboard the fishing boat while another patrol vessel carrying three officers followed behind to monitor the situation. However, they failed to notice the man’s escape because he had been on the rear side of the vessel and reportedly jumped into the water when the officials’ surveillance became lax.
The Coast Guard only began pursuing him after receiving a report from a resident that “a man swimming near a breakwater came ashore.”
Authorities have formed a dedicated team to investigate the individual’s associates and track his movements, but they have yet to locate him as of the third day since the escape.
“There is no indication so far that he has fled Seocheon County,” a Coast Guard official said. “We are conducting a door-to-door investigation centered on areas within Seocheon, including his residence.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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