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The Korean Coast Guard has revealed a series of serious failures behind the grounding of a passenger car ferry, announcing that it is pursuing charges including gross negligence against multiple crew members. According to officials, the first officer, who was responsible for navigation during the incident, was distracted by his mobile phone and neglected critical duties. Both the captain and the helmsman are also under investigation.
The first officer, a Korean national in his 40s, had command of the vessel during the final stage of its four-hour voyage from the popular tourist destination of Jeju Island. He initially claimed a steering malfunction had caused the accident, but later admitted to reading news on his cell phone at the time.
For the last 45 minutes of the trip, the ferry Queen Jenuvia 2 was navigating a narrow channel that required manual steering. Despite this, the Coast Guard said the ship remained on autopilot as it approached a sharp, nearly 90-degree turn.
The vessel missed the turn by an estimated two to three minutes—approximately 1,500 meters—and was just 100 meters from a small uninhabited island when the mistake was realized. The ferry struck the island, tearing a hole in its bow. Twenty-seven passengers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries after the ship was safely evacuated.
Authorities confirmed that the first officer and the helmsman are now detained and facing arrest on charges of gross negligence, which carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
The investigation continues, with officials seizing cell phones for forensic examination and reviewing onboard CCTV footage along with data from the voyage recorder.
The captain, a Korean man in his 60s, is also under scrutiny for being absent from the bridge at the time of the grounding. He faces potential charges for failing to perform his duties. The helmsman, an Indonesian national, is being interviewed through an interpreter as the inquiry progresses.
Sea World Express Ferry Co., the operator of the vessel, issued a public apology and suspended operations. The company said it is cooperating fully with authorities, has provided shelter for evacuated passengers, and pledged to “comprehensively overhaul our safety management system across all vessel operations to prevent any recurrence.”
The ferry was successfully refloated during high tide overnight and towed to a dock in Mokpo for further examination. On board at the time were 246 passengers, 21 crew members, and 118 vehicles. Plans are underway to offload the vehicles and remaining cargo from the damaged vessel.
