ISTANBUL
Eight Chinese nationals attempting to "illegally" enter South Korea by boat off the country's west coast were apprehended on Monday, Yonhap News reported, citing the coast guard.
The Korean Coast Guard said an unidentified boat was reported at 11.38 pm (1438GMT) Sunday and captured at around 1.43 am (0443GMT) Monday.
The small boat carrying the eight Chinese people was towed to a port in Taean county, South Chungcheong province, on the country's west coast. During the seizure, one of the passengers jumped into the water and was later rescued.
Authorities said that the group left from Weihai in China’s eastern Shandong province at around 10 am (1300GMT) Sunday, about 300 kilometers (nearly 186 miles) west of South Korea's coast, in an attempt to enter the country “illegally” to find jobs.
The Korean Coast Guard said that it is planning to seek arrest warrants for the eight Chinese nationals on charges of violating the country’s Immigration Control Act.