2010 Eocheong boat collision incident


The 2010 Eocheong boat collision incident occurred on December 18, 2010 off Eocheong island about 70 km near Gunsan in the Yellow Sea. It was a conflict between the Republic of Korea Coast Guard boat and fishermen from the People's Republic of China.

Incident

About 50 Chinese fishing boats were illegally fishing in the area off the coast of Eocheng island. The Republic of Korea Coast Guard ship shot them with water cannons to move them back. One of the 63-tonne Chinese fishing boats then intentionally collided with the 3,000-tonne South Korean coastguard ship. The fishing boat then capsized.
The coast guard officers tried to arrest the fishermen for illegally fishing near the island. The fisherman resisted arrest and fought with steel bars, clubs and shovels. In the confrontation, four Korean coastguard officers were injured, including fractured arms and other injuries. One Chinese fisherman died and two others were missing. Eight boats and four helicopters later searched for the missing fishermen. The fisherman who died had fallen unconscious after the collision and went into a coma, dying at a hospital in Gunsan.