Although no casualties were reported, the collision punctured three of the five tanks aboard the Hebei Spirit and resulted in the leaking of some 10,800 tonnes (11,900 short tons) of oil.

[8] The region affected by the spill is home to one of Asia's largest wetland areas, used by migratory birds, and also contains a national maritime park and 445 sea farms.

However, unseasonably warm weather, combined with strong waves and unexpected wind directions, caused the spill to expand beyond initial expectations.

[8][9] On December 14, the oil balls had arrived at Anmyeon-do[10] (安眠島; Anmyeon Island), resulting in at least five beaches being contaminated with large tar lumps.

[1][9] Hundreds of thousands of volunteers and celebrities including South Korean actress Park Jin-hee helped to clean up the beaches in the campaign.

[citation needed] As of January 4, 2008, the Navy had deployed 229 vessels and some 22,000 military personnel to help clean up the spill, in addition to civilian aid.

[citation needed] On January 10, 2008, the number of volunteers topped the 1-million mark to reach 1,037,000 people, 33 days after the accident occurred on December 7, according to the South Chungcheong provincial government.

[13] The Taean office for emergency operations reported that the volunteers included 580,000 ordinary civilians, 186,700 local residents, 127,000 soldiers and policemen, and 57,143 public officials.

[7] The South Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and police admitted to having not provided sufficient amount of oil absorbent material to fishermen and residents as well as not having paid enough attention to the wind direction.

[23] It was finally in June 2009 that Captain Jasprit Chawla and chief officer Syam Chetan were released by the Seoul Supreme Court as firstly it was the barge that was at fault and secondly, the case did not fall under the purview of a criminal act but a civil one for which the shipping company could be fined.

[24] According to Lloyd's List and other media reports, South Korean maritime officials, prosecutors and Samsung lawyers have been accused of colluding in the retrial of the two senior officers.