According to the Korea Coast Guard marine accident statistics yearbook, the number of maritime accidents during holiday periods rises to about 1.7 times the weekday average. The reason is simple. Sudden influx of inexperienced participants who don’t normally fish, and boarding with family groups which disperses situational awareness. The Chuseok period also falls in late September to early October when autumn winds and temperature swings intensify, making weather variability greater than at other times.

01Three pitfalls of Chuseok fishing trips

Holiday traffic
Fishing vessels and charter boats depart simultaneously, concentrating more than usual
CollisionsRisk ↑
Port entrances and shipping lanes
Temperature swing
Perceived sea temperature at 5 a.m.
8–12℃
Midday difference of 22 °C to 14 °C
Wind and wave fluctuations
Weakening of the North Pacific high pressure
GustsFrequent
Localized occurrences in late September

025‑minute checklist before the fishing trip

The following five items must be checked before a fishing trip on holidays or long weekends.

01
Triple check of weather information
KMA marine forecast + local forecast precipitation timing + NHO tide table. Depart only when all three indicate safe conditions. If even one does Wind speed 12 m/s or higher · wave height 2 m or higher If so, reconsider the trip.
02
Share passenger locations
Send family or friends the fishing spot coordinates (or harbor name), estimated departure and return times, and number of passengers, Promise to report to 122 if no response within 30 minutes Pre‑share the four items.
03
Life jacket + whistle + glow stick
Life jacket with buoyancy of 7.5 kg or more, dual automatic/manual. Whistle and glow stick are attached to the jacket. For automatic‑inflating types, Check cartridge expiration date.
04
Dry clothes + thermos
A tackle box or vehicle with a set of dry clothes to change into (top and socks). Thermos filled with lukewarm water + candy or chocolate. Alcohol is prohibited during the fishing trip— Temporary warmth sensation followed by vasodilation accelerates heat loss.
05
Mobile phone + power bank + waterproof case
Phone immersion at sea is common. Keep the waterproof case + power bank + ID and emergency contact cards in the jacket’s inner pocket stored there.

03Emergency response — 122 reporting procedure

If an accident occurs, report in the following order.

⚑ Reporting order when an accident occurs
01
Confirm that everyone is wearing a life jacketincluding crew and companions
02
Obtain current position coordinatesShip GPS or mobile GPS
03
Report to 122Location, number of persons, condition, vessel identification number
04
Simultaneous transmission on VHF channel 16If aboard a vessel
05
Activate signal flare, whistle, and navigation lightsEnsure visibility of position
After reporting, it is standard not to attempt a self‑powered return under strain. In Korea Coast Guard cases, many incidents that escalated involved trying to return under own power after reporting, leading to a secondary accident.

04Chuseok period tides — caution before and after the spring tide

According to the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency tide tables, Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the lunar August, which each year is close to the spring tide (daejyo). The 24‑hour period surrounding the spring tide peak has the strongest current. When fishing on rocky shores, the risk level is higher than usual within 4 hours before and after high tide. Inspect the entry and exit routes with a headlamp before the trip.

Chuseok tide characteristics
Lunar August 15 — annually close to the spring tide (daejyo)
Strongest current period
24 hours before and after the spring tide peak
Rocky‑shore danger window
4 hours before and after high‑tide time
Pre‑trip checklist
Headlamp scouting of entry and exit routes
⚠ Before heading out, this must be done
  • Triple weather verification— If wind speed ≥ 12 m/s or wave height ≥ 2 m, reconsider the trip.
  • Share passenger locations— If no response within 30 minutes, commit to reporting to 122.
  • No alcohol— Drinking while fishing dilates vessels and accelerates heat loss.
  • Avoid self‑powered return— Reckless return after reporting can lead to secondary accidents.

05One‑line principle

For holiday trips, 'Even if you don’t catch anything, just come back safely' is the baseline. On weekdays, minor risks that don’t usually lead to major accidents can be taken, but during holidays they overlap and amplify, increasing the scale of incidents. The more family members are waiting, the more a conservative judgment is a virtue.