Search for Missing High School Student at Goseong Beach Enters Second Day; All Assets Mobilized

Search operations are continuing for the second day for a high school student who went missing at Chodo Beach in Goseong, Gangwon Province, after being swept away by powerful waves. As of 10 a.m. on June 22, the Sokcho Coast Guard deployed one helicopter (B-527), a 500-ton patrol vessel (Vessel 505), six rescue team members, and a coastal rescue boat with a four-person team from Geojin Port. They are concentrating their search efforts along the sea and coastline.

In addition to the Coast Guard, approximately 30 personnel from the Goseong Fire Department and Goseong Police Station, along with a unit from the Army's Dongho Battalion, are participating in the joint search. The East China Sea is currently under a strong wave warning, and the Coast Guard is closely monitoring the weather conditions while continuing the search. If the strong wave advisory is lifted after noon, the Coast Guard plans to deploy five additional civilian rescue boats to broaden the search area, though the scale and timing may change depending on the weather.

The incident occurred around 9:40 a.m. the previous day when a report was received about a student, identified as Mr. A (18), being swept out to sea at Chodo Beach. Mr. A was reportedly in Goseong with three friends to participate in a street basketball tournament when the accident happened. The Coast Guard conducted an intensive search with helicopters, vessels, and rescue teams throughout the day but had to suspend daytime operations at 6 p.m. due to high waves and strong winds. Nighttime search operations continued using a coastal rescue boat from Geojin Port.

A spokesperson for the Sokcho Coast Guard stated, "Despite the difficulties posed by high waves and strong winds, we are mobilizing all available resources to conduct the search for the missing person to the best of our ability." The challenging weather conditions underscore the risks involved in the ongoing rescue mission.

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Despite the difficulties posed by high waves and strong winds, we are mobilizing all available resources to conduct the search for the missing person to the best of our ability.