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5h ago

Coast Guard Probes Delayed Response in Officer's Death as Colleagues Allege Cover-Up

An outside expert panel will conduct a two-week review of protocol breaches.

Korea Coast Guard Commissioner General Kim Yong-jin delivers a condolence speech during the funeral of late Coast Guard officer Lee Jae-seok at Incheon Coast Guard in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Sept. 15, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Four colleagues of a Coast Guard officer killed on duty while rescuing a Chinese man hold a press conference at a funeral home in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Sept. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • Four colleagues said bosses told them to stay quiet to “make Lee a hero,” an allegation the Korea Coast Guard rejected while asserting it shared drone, radio and CCTV evidence with the family.
  • Drone footage shows Sergeant Lee gave his life vest to the stranded man and remained afloat for at least 33 minutes before he was last seen at 3:27 a.m.
  • Radio transcripts indicate Lee warned of a rising tide and said he might need help, yet he proceeded alone after a suggestion to wake another officer.
  • Station records show no immediate backup was dispatched, with other officers leaving around 3:09 a.m. after a separate drone alert, despite rules requiring two-officer patrols.
  • The Coast Guard formed a six-member external fact-finding team to examine procedural compliance and reporting delays, including why a helicopter was ordered at 3:32 a.m. and took off around 3:55.