SEOUL, Nov 20 – South Korea's coast guard started an investigation on Thursday into a ferry that ran aground. They arrested the first officer and an Indonesian crew member for suspected negligence, according to local officials.

The two were in charge of the ship and are believed to have waited too long to turn off the autopilot, which caused the vessel to hit an uninhabited island while approaching the busy port of Mokpo, officers noted.

The 26,546-ton ferry, named Queen Jenuvia 2, can hold 1,010 passengers and has multiple decks for vehicles. It ran aground as it came from the southern island of Jeju but remained upright, allowing all 267 people on board to be rescued.

This incident brought back memories of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, where more than 300 people died, many of whom were children on a school trip. The Sewol sank in the same region but further out at sea.

A coast guard investigator in Mokpo reported that the crew members provided conflicting statements during questioning.

“Despite their varying accounts, we’re looking at gross negligence,” said Kim Hwang-gyun.

Initially, the first officer claimed he was watching news on his phone during the incident.

Kim added that the investigation will include checking the crew members' phones, the ferry’s navigation data, and vessel traffic control records in the area.

The ferry's operator, Seaworld, did not respond to calls for comments at their Mokpo office.

While a few individuals received medical assistance, none were in serious danger, and the ferry only suffered minor damage to its hull, coast guard officials stated.

The vessel was on course and sailing at 22 knots (40 kph) when it failed to make a turn, according to Kim, the coast guard investigator.

Authorities will look into whether the ship was unable to change direction in the narrow navigation channels of the area.

Typically, ships in this region, which is surrounded by small islands, are manually steered rather than using autopilot, explained another coast guard official.

“This is a narrow coastal area that requires careful navigation,” said Choi Jae-gon.

Officials confirmed that the crew members were not under the influence of alcohol.

The ferry was towed to Mokpo port, where it showed signs of damage, including crumpled steel and scratches on the hull, as seen in photos released by the coast guard.