What's News
Remains of Distant-Water Fisherman Return Home to Family After 37 Years
-
Date
2026.08.21.
-
Hit
13
-
File
Remains of Distant-Water Fisherman Return
Home to Family After 37 Years
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that a memorial service for the repatriation of the remains of a Korean distant-water fisherman, previously buried in Dakar Cemetery, Senegal, Africa, will be held on Tuesday, August 11, at the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association.
The deceased, who dedicated his life as a driving force behind South Korea’s economic development in the 1980s by navigating global oceans, tragically passed away in an unexpected accident at sea. After being buried in a distant foreign land for 37 years, his remains are finally returning to his longing homeland and the arms of his family.
To honor the noble sacrifice of Korean distant-water fishermen, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been managing 272 graves across seven countries?including Samoa, Las Palmas (Spain), and Senegal?since 2002 through the "Overseas Seafarers' Cemetery Maintenance Project," with the assistance of local Korean residents' associations.
Furthermore, since 2014, when bereaved families wish to repatriate remains to Korea, the Ministry has cooperated with local governments to facilitate their return. Including this case, a total of 40 remains have been repatriated to date.
Yang Young-jin, Director General for Fisheries Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, expressed his gratitude, saying, "We extend our deepest thanks to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Senegal, the Honorary Oceans and Fisheries Attache in Senegal, and all related officials who worked tirelessly over the past three years for this repatriation." He added, "We will continue to do our utmost so that distant-water fishermen buried in far-off foreign lands can return to their families as soon as possible."
Bereaved family members wishing to repatriate the remains of overseas distant-water fishermen to Korea may contact the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association (+82-2-589-1611) for inquiries.
Home to Family After 37 Years
- Repatriation Memorial Ceremony Held on Aug 11 for Remains Exhumed from Dakar Cemetery in Senegal
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that a memorial service for the repatriation of the remains of a Korean distant-water fisherman, previously buried in Dakar Cemetery, Senegal, Africa, will be held on Tuesday, August 11, at the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association.
The deceased, who dedicated his life as a driving force behind South Korea’s economic development in the 1980s by navigating global oceans, tragically passed away in an unexpected accident at sea. After being buried in a distant foreign land for 37 years, his remains are finally returning to his longing homeland and the arms of his family.
To honor the noble sacrifice of Korean distant-water fishermen, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been managing 272 graves across seven countries?including Samoa, Las Palmas (Spain), and Senegal?since 2002 through the "Overseas Seafarers' Cemetery Maintenance Project," with the assistance of local Korean residents' associations.
Furthermore, since 2014, when bereaved families wish to repatriate remains to Korea, the Ministry has cooperated with local governments to facilitate their return. Including this case, a total of 40 remains have been repatriated to date.
Yang Young-jin, Director General for Fisheries Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, expressed his gratitude, saying, "We extend our deepest thanks to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Senegal, the Honorary Oceans and Fisheries Attache in Senegal, and all related officials who worked tirelessly over the past three years for this repatriation." He added, "We will continue to do our utmost so that distant-water fishermen buried in far-off foreign lands can return to their families as soon as possible."
Bereaved family members wishing to repatriate the remains of overseas distant-water fishermen to Korea may contact the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association (+82-2-589-1611) for inquiries.
-
NEXT
-
PREV