In the muted calm of a late November evening, the sea stretched before the ferry like a silent witness. But that peace was broken by a sudden, jarring impact: the Queen Jenuvia II struck hidden rocks near a small island off South Korea’s southwestern coast. What might have become a tragic chapter instead turned into a story of relief — all 267 people aboard were rescued.
The ferry — carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew — was on its course from the resort island of Jeju to the port city of Mokpo when it ran aground near Jok Islet, close to Jangsan Island in Sinan County. Within minutes of the distress report, the Coast Guard dispatched a fleet of vessels, including rescue craft and patrol ships, as well as a plane, to the site.
Passengers, some shaken by the sudden lurch, recalled a loud bang and rapid tilt. They donned life jackets and made their way to the top deck, waiting calmly as rescue teams arrived. Vulnerable individuals — elderly passengers, pregnant women, and children — were evacuated first, in a carefully prioritized operation.
Though no one was seriously hurt, a handful reported minor injuries and shock; a total of 27 people later said they felt pain or distress from the incident. A small hole was found in the ferry’s bow, but authorities confirmed there was no flooding.
By early the next morning, tugboats had pulled the vessel free, and the Queen Jenuvia II sailed into Mokpo harbor — nearly nine hours after the grounding. An investigation is now underway. Coast Guard officials have suggested that human error — possibly by the captain or navigator — may have caused the accident, and they plan to review surveillance footage and data from the ship’s recorders.
In the background of the rescue, echoes of past trauma loomed. The 2014 Sewol ferry disaster — one of South Korea’s worst maritime tragedies — is still fresh in public memory, and this grounding stirred unease. But this time, the outcome was brighter: no lives lost, and a strong, fast response from rescuers.
This incident serves as a quiet but powerful reminder — the sea can be as treacherous as it is beautiful, and even a momentary misstep demands vigilance, competence, and the readiness to act.
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Sources: The Korea Times Sky News South China Morning Post
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