A South Korean deep-sea fishermen's cemetery in Dakar, Senegal. The remains of deep-sea fishermen interred abroad are repatriated to South Korea at the request of their families. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
A South Korean deep-sea fishermen's cemetery in Dakar, Senegal. The remains of deep-sea fishermen interred abroad are repatriated to South Korea at the request of their families. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
A South Korean deep-sea fishermen's cemetery in Dakar, Senegal. The remains of deep-sea fishermen interred abroad are repatriated to South Korea at the request of their families. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
A South Korean deep-sea fishermen's cemetery in Dakar, Senegal. The remains of deep-sea fishermen interred abroad are repatriated to South Korea at the request of their families. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
A casket adorned with chrysanthemums rests at a repatriation memorial ceremony for a deep-sea fisherman. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
A casket adorned with chrysanthemums rests at a repatriation memorial ceremony for a deep-sea fisherman. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
Attendees observe a moment of silence at a repatriation memorial ceremony held by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
Attendees observe a moment of silence at a repatriation memorial ceremony held by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

A South Korean deep-sea fisherman who died in Senegal 37 years ago is finally coming home. The remains of the sailor — who perished in an accident while working far out at sea during South Korea's economic development era and was buried on foreign soil — are being repatriated to his homeland.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Monday that a repatriation memorial ceremony will be held Tuesday at the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association to mark the transfer of one set of remains from a cemetery in Dakar, Senegal, back to South Korea.

The deceased served aboard a deep-sea fishing vessel in the 1980s, contributing to the country's economic growth, before dying in an unexpected accident. He is returning to his homeland and his family 37 years after being laid to rest in Senegal.

The ministry has run an overseas sailor cemetery maintenance project since 2002 to honor the sacrifices of deep-sea fishermen buried abroad. It currently manages 272 graves across seven countries — including Samoa, Las Palmas in Spain and Senegal — in cooperation with local Korean communities.

Since 2014, the ministry has arranged the repatriation of remains to South Korea for families who wish it, following consultations with local governments. Including Tuesday's ceremony, 40 sets of deep-sea fishermen's remains have now been returned to South Korea.

Yang Yeong-jin, the ministry's fisheries policy director, thanked those involved in making the repatriation possible. "I am grateful to the South Korean embassy in Senegal, the honorary maritime affairs officer in Senegal, and all others who worked hard for three years to make this repatriation happen," Yang said. "We will continue to do our utmost so that deep-sea fishermen buried in distant foreign lands can return to their families as soon as possible."

Families wishing to have the remains of overseas deep-sea fishermen repatriated to South Korea may apply through the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association.


adastra@heraldcorp.com