The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Navy conducted a joint civil-military maritime anti-piracy drill on the morning of March 7 in waters near Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.
This joint drill has been conducted before each overseas deployment of the Cheonghae Unit since its 8th rotation in 2011. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has participated in the drill since the 43rd rotation in 2024. This year’s exercise simulated a scenario in which a South Korean civilian vessel (Hanuriho, operated by the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology) was hijacked by pirates overseas. The drill tested the emergency communication system, coordination with diplomatic missions, crew rescue operations, and the military’s anti-piracy capabilities.
With recent increases in threats to commercial vessels, including attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as rising piracy activity near Somalia, the necessity for such joint drills has become more urgent.
During the exercise, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries immediately reported the hijacking incident to relevant agencies, including the Cheonghae Unit and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with South Korea’s diplomatic missions to assess potential support from coastal nations and activated a rapid response team. Meanwhile, the Cheonghae Unit deployed helicopters and high-speed boats to conduct a crew rescue operation and neutralize the pirates.
Yoon Joo Seok, Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged the 45th rotation of the Cheonghae Unit to carry out its mission without disruption. He emphasized that close cooperation between relevant ministries is essential to ensuring the safety of South Korean seafarers and vessels in pirate-threatened regions like the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. He also stated that this drill has enhanced teamwork, enabling a quicker response to future hijacking incidents.
Colonel Im Tae Woong, commanding officer of ROKS Munmu the Great, highlighted that the drill ensured that the civil, government, and military sectors could respond as a unified team under an integrated system in a piracy-related crisis involving South Korean nationals overseas. He reaffirmed that the Republic of Korea Navy is fully prepared to protect the lives and safety of South Korean citizens anytime, anywhere.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Navy will continue strengthening their cooperation to ensure that South Korean seafarers and vessels can navigate safely and freely in any waters worldwide.
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