Ministry coordinates with S. Korea to find missing Indonesian crew

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its embassy in Seoul, is intensively coordinating with the South Korean Coast Guard (KCG) as search and rescue operations continue for two Indonesian crew members missing off the coast of Busan.

The incident occurred on Thursday, June 25, at approximately 10:10 a.m. local time, when a 79-ton fishing vessel carrying six Indonesian crew members collided with a 992-ton Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier in the waters around Gijang, Busan.

Following the collision, the fishing vessel sank.

"At the time of the incident, there were eight crew members on board the fishing vessel, consisting of six Indonesian citizens and two South Korean citizens," the ministry’s Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens (PWNI), Heni Hamidah, said in her statement on Thursday.

“Six crew members, including four Indonesians, were saved. The search for the remaining two Indonesian crew members is still actively underway,” she added.

In response to the incident, South Korean authorities have deployed a joint rescue fleet consisting of coast guard patrol boats, navy vessels, helicopters, government ships, and local fishing boats near the scene to locate the missing victims.

The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul stated that it has also established direct communication channels with the families of the missing crew members to provide real-time updates and necessary consular assistance as the rescue operation unfolds.

The maritime accident occurred just weeks after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signed Presidential Regulation No.25/2026 on May 1, which ratifies the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No.188 concerning work in the fishing sector.

According to the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Ministry, the ratification of ILO Convention 188 is a significant milestone in enforcing decent work standards in the fisheries sector, which is widely recognized for its high operational risks and hazards.

Through this presidential regulation, the government aims to guarantee comprehensive protection for Indonesian fishing crews, covering transparent recruitment processes, labor rights, occupational safety as well as clearer, more humane employment contracts.

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Translator: Cindy Frishanti Octavia, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Arie Novarina

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