Oil Slick Discovered Near Gunsan's Jangja Bridge; Coast Guard Investigating Potential Intentional Discharge

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause after an oil slick stretching 1 kilometer was spotted in the waters near Jangja Bridge in Okdo-myeon, Gunsan, North Jeolla Province.

According to the Gunsan Coast Guard on the 29th, a report was received at around 3:36 p.m. the previous day stating that a rainbow-colored oil slick had appeared in the waters near the bridge.

Deploying coastal rescue boats from the Saemangeum Coast Guard Substation and a land patrol team, the Coast Guard assessed the extent of the marine pollution at the scene and conducted cleanup operations, removing the oil film in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The Coast Guard plans to investigate the cause of the incident and how it occurred by questioning vessels that passed through the area.

Yang Byung-seok, head of the Marine Pollution Response Division at the Gunsan Coast Guard, stated, "Intentionally discharging oil into the sea is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won, and we will investigate whether this marine pollution was caused by an intentional oil spill."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.