At around 3:40 p.m. today (the 20th), a report was filed with the Coast Guard stating that a diver in his 40s, identified as A, had failed to surface off the coast of Byeongpungdo in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do.

The Mokpo Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat to search the waters around the island, locating A on a nearby coastal rock. Due to shallow waters, a civilian fishing vessel was mobilized, and the rescue was completed at around 4:45 p.m.

Fortunately, A is reportedly not suffering from any major health issues.

An investigation revealed that A had been wearing diving gear and harvesting abalone with a colleague when he was swept away by a strong current.

A Coast Guard official urged, "When working at sea, individuals must thoroughly understand weather conditions and surrounding geography, and be fully equipped with safety gear to prepare for unexpected accidents."

(Photo provided by Mokpo Coast Guard, Yonhap News)