REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Three Indonesian crews working for a South Korea-flagged ship reportedly went missing after the ship capsized in Japanese waters. The news was confirmed by the Foreign Ministry's citizen protection director, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, on Thursday, after the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul received the information from the Busan Coast Guard.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has sought the South Korean government's commitment and full attention for the search of three Indonesian ship crews. Marsudi has also conveyed such request to her South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-Hwa during a working visit to Seoul.

"The Indonesian government has a high commitment to provide protection to Indonesian citizens abroad, so I urge the South Korean government to conduct a continuous search for these three Indonesian crews," Marsudi noted in a statement released by the ministry on Thursday.

On Thursday at 7 a.m. local time at sea near Tokyo, the Longline 803 Tongyeongho collided with the 101 Keumyangho ship. Both ships were South Korean-flagged vessels.

The 101 Keumyangho sank with 18 Indonesian crew members on board. A total of 15 Indonesian crew members survived, while three crew members were lost at sea.

In addition to Indonesian citizens, the ship was also manned by seven South Korean crews, six Filipino crews, and seven Vietnamese crews. "The Korean authorities are looking for the missing crews, including three from Indonesia," Iqbal stated.

So far, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul is continuing to coordinate with the local authorities, including the Busan Coast Guard, for the search.

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