South Korea's Coast Guard said Monday that they have rescued four men from a small fishing boat that sank off the country's southwest coast.

The 4.7-ton drift-net boat capsized after sending out a distress message at around 8 p.m., local authorities said. The boat was located 4.7 miles northeast of Manje Island. The small island lies some 110 kilometers from the port of Mokpo in South Jeolla Province.

"Three patrol boats arrived on the scene after getting the distress call and picked up four out of the eight-person crew on board when the boat went down," a Coast Guard source said. Among those rescued is the captain of the fishing boat.

It said rescue personnel are checking the area to find the missing fishermen. (Yonhap News)