South Korea Officially Recognizes 3 Fishing Crewmen Abducted by North Korea in 1973

On November 2, 2026, South Korea's unification ministry officially recognized three fishing crewmen who were abducted by North Korea in 1973. This recognition marks a significant step in acknowledging the plight of abductees from the Korean War era.

The crewmen, Jo Gi-won, Kim Yang-hun, and Kim Dong-ho, were forcibly taken while aboard their fishing vessel, the Daeyeong, near Yeonpyeong Island. Their abduction adds to the growing list of recognized victims, bringing the total number of government-recognized abductees to 519 since the end of the Korean War.

The ministry announced that Jo's family would receive 81 million won (approximately $60,290) in consolation payments. Efforts are underway to locate the families of the other two crewmen to provide similar support.

The Daeyeong had not been previously included in the records of abducted vessels until the return of Kim Byeong-do, a former crew member, in 2003. Since the 1953 Armistice Agreement, over 3,800 South Koreans have been abducted to the North, with 519 still believed to be held there.