A Chinese fisherman on an 80-tonne fishing boat was shot dead Friday by a South Korean coast guard.
The 45-year-old fisherman, identified by his surname Song, was shot in the water near Wangdeung Island in Buan county, Yonhap news agency reported.
Song was admitted to a hospital, where he died later, a coast guard official said.
A piece of 1.8 cm bullet was found in his body.
The coast guard claimed that he questioned the fishermen on board when the boat illegally entered into South Korean waters.
The coast guard fired three blank shots.
In 2013, South Korean Coast Guards have arrested 183 Chinese fishermen for illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea.