A search operation was held overnight to rescue crew members of a fishing boat that sank off the southern island of Geoje on Saturday.

The 339-ton vessel sank at around 3:40 p.m. in waters about one kilometer southeast of the island in South Gyeongsang Province, according to the Korea Coast Guard.

Seven of ten crew members were rescued, while the other three, including the ship's captain, remain missing.

The regional coast guard searched the area mobilizing more than 20 patrol ships but failed to find the missing people during the overnight search operation.

The coast guard mobilized seven additional aircraft on Sunday morning for the search as the winds died down.

Minister of Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol ordered the mobilization of all available resources for the search and rescue effort.