A Chinese fisherman aboard a boat illegally fishing in South Korean waters in the Yellow Sea was shot dead on Tuesday by a South Korean Coast Guard officer during a raid, officials said.

The South Korean Coast Guard caught 30 Chinese boats that were illegally fishing in the southwestern sea about 90 kilometers northwest of Hong Island in Shinan County, South Jeolla Province, at around 3:10 p.m.

The Coast Guard seized two Chinese ships and sailors aboard, as Chinese fishermen fought back against the raid with knives and handsaws, according to officials.

A Chinese sailor surnamed Jang, 44, was shot by a rubber bullet fired by a South Korean officer during the raid, authorities said.

The injured man was transported to a nearby hospital by helicopter, but was declared dead at around 6 p.m. they said.

The Coast Guard noted that the rubber bullet was intended to be a non-lethal instrument used for crackdowns on illegal Chinese fishing.

"The raid officers fired the rubber bullet in the face of a harsh protest by the Chinese sailors," said an official from the Coast Guard.

Meanwhile, the Seoul government informed the Chinese government of the incident and expressed regret about the tragedy, according to officials. It also offered condolences to the bereaved family, they added. (Yonhap News)