Viral clips show tense boarding operation
A recent wave of social media videos appears to show the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) boarding a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel in the Yellow Sea, using irritant spray on deck and restraining several crew members. While the exact details of the incident remain unverified, the footage aligns with South Korea’s intensified campaign against illegal Chinese fishing near the Northern Limit Line and within its exclusive economic zone. Seoul has strengthened surveillance this year, including the deployment of a floating monitoring platform near Incheon to track activity in contested waters.
Rising incursions documented through 2024–2025
South Korean outlets have consistently reported a surge in Chinese fishing flotillas near the West Sea’s most sensitive boundaries. Investigations in 2025 revealed a daily average of nearly 190 Chinese civilian vessels operating close to the NLL, with arrests and vessel seizures becoming more frequent. These trends reflect mounting operational pressure on KCG units as they respond to narcotics trafficking, jurisdictional violations, and aggressive non-compliance by foreign crews.
Although the latest viral clips claim the use of tear gas, zip-ties, and seizure of a vessel, key facts remain unconfirmed without an official KCG statement. South Korea has previously employed non-lethal tools when faced with resistant operators, but each case depends on precise conditions at sea. If verified, the incident would illustrate Seoul’s willingness to apply forceful but regulated measures as competition in the Yellow Sea intensifies and regional maritime boundaries come under renewed strain.
