A Chinese fishing boat seized by the Korea Coast Guard [Korea Coast Guard]
A Chinese fishing boat seized by the Korea Coast Guard [Korea Coast Guard]

Coast guard officers who drove off multiple Chinese fishing boats caught illegally operating after crossing the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea have received a special commendation for their work.

The Korea Coast Guard said Friday it had given cash awards to six officers, including Senior Inspector Jeon Hyeong-uk of the Mid-West Regional Coast Guard, for seizing eight illegal Chinese fishing boats and driving away 24 others in a recent pan-government joint crackdown in the NLL waters.

Through this round of special commendations, the coast guard distributed 53.4 million won ($39,900) in cash awards to a total of 29 recipients, recognized either individually or as part of a team. The recipients were selected after a review by the Special Achievement Award Screening Committee, made up of internal and external experts, which also factored in a public perception survey of 260 citizens. Ahead of the fall blue crab fishing season, the government has recently been expanding enforcement personnel and equipment while strengthening cooperation between ministries.

An award also went to Senior Sergeant Im Jae-hyeok of the Jeju Coast Guard Station, who generated an economic effect of about 63 million won by putting a vessel used for illegal migrant smuggling up for public auction and returning the proceeds to the national treasury. Eight others were also honored, including Senior Sergeant Choi Jeong-an of the Tongyeong Coast Guard Station, who spent more than two hours clearing debris with his bare hands to rescue a woman in her 60s who had been buried in a landslide triggered by heavy rain in the Geoje-Tongyeong area.

Other honorees included Senior Sergeant Kang Tae-hyun of the headquarters' International Affairs Division, who helped raise security deposit requirements for new types of illegal fishing by foreign vessels, generating an estimated 3.3 billion won in annual economic benefits; Senior Superintendent Min Eun-hee of the headquarters' Water Leisure Division, who applied a retired civil servants' social contribution project to water leisure safety management; and Senior Inspector Lee Seong-hwa of the Wando Coast Guard Station, who detained and referred for prosecution seven foreign nationals involved in drug trafficking and use.

"I hope that clearly rewarding achievements like these will boost the pride of officers who dedicate themselves quietly to their duties and help protect the safety of the public," said Jang In-sik, acting commissioner general of the Korea Coast Guard.


arin@heraldcorp.com