• A South Korean ferry ran aground after the helmsman was distracted by his mobile phone.
• All 267 passengers and crew were safely rescued with no serious injuries reported.
• Authorities plan to press criminal charges for "clear negligence" against the helmsman.
• The ferry was traveling from Jeju Island to Mokpo when the incident occurred.
• This incident echoes the tragic 2014 Sewol ferry disaster in which 304 people died.

A South Korean ferry ran aground on an uninhabited island after its helmsman became distracted by his mobile phone, according to officials from the Korea Coast Guard. The accident occurred on Wednesday evening while the vessel was en route from Jeju Island to Mokpo, and all 267 passengers and crew were safely rescued without serious injuries reported, as confirmed by the Ministry of Safety and coast guard statements.

The helmsman reportedly allowed autopilot to take control during a segment of the journey that required manual operation, leading to the ferry missing its turn and running aground. As a result of this negligence, the Coast Guard announced their plans to proceed with criminal charges against the individual responsible for steering the vessel, stating that the incident was largely due to "clear negligence," according to the coast guard representative.

No severe injuries were recorded, however, 27 passengers experienced light injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital after the incident. Rescue operations quickly mobilized, successfully transferring 246 passengers to safety on neighboring ships. Authorities confirmed that 21 crew members remained onboard the vessel, which was later towed to Mokpo harbor early the next morning.