Remains of deep-sea fisherman repatriated to South Korea after 37 years in Senegal

The remains of a South Korean deep-sea fisherman, interred for 37 years in a cemetery in Dakar, Senegal, are finally returning to his homeland. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that a memorial ceremony will be held on August 11 to repatriate the remains of the fisherman, who died in an accident while working on a deep-sea vessel in the 1980s.

Since 2002, the ministry has been engaged in the 'Overseas Fishermen's Cemetery Maintenance Project' to honor deep-sea fishermen who died abroad. Through this initiative, they have managed 272 graves in seven countries, including Samoa, Las Palmas in Spain, and Senegal, with the assistance of local Korean communities.

Since 2014, the ministry has facilitated the repatriation of remains to South Korea for families who wish to bring their loved ones home. To date, a total of 40 sets of remains have been successfully repatriated. Families seeking to bring home the remains of overseas deep-sea fishermen are encouraged to contact the Korea Deep Sea Fisheries Association for assistance.