President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered Cho Seung Hwan, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, to the scene following the capsizing of Cheongbo, a fishing boat registered in Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, 9 nautical miles west of Daebichi Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do at 23:19 on February 4.

Minister Cho visited the Mokpo Maritime Police Station, location of the Regional Rescue Headquarters, and asked them to do their best to find and rescue the missing persons by mobilizing all available resources. He also visited the waiting room for families of the missing persons at the nearby Shinan-gun Fisheries Cooperative, explaining the current progress of the search and rescue efforts and promised that the government would do everything it could in this regard. As part of the government’s response to the deadly fishing boat accident, Minister Cho left Song Airport at Aphaedo around 14:10 on February 5 and arrived at the scene around 15:40.