PM visits 2024 plane crash site, seeks to comfort bereaved families

On August 13, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook journeyed to the site of a 2024 plane crash to extend condolences to the families of the 179 people who perished. The incident occurred on December 29 when the Jeju Air aircraft belly-landed at Muan International Airport, near Seoul, and subsequently crashed into a concrete structure before catching fire.

Expressing deep sorrow, Prime Minister Han addressed the bereaved family members during a meeting at the airport. She conveyed her sympathies, stating, "It is hard to imagine what you have gone through." As a government representative, she emphasized her sense of responsibility in handling the matter.

Prime Minister Han acknowledged the families' primary desire to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. She mentioned that moving the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board from the land ministry to her office aims to ensure its independence and fairness in the investigation process.

Efforts to recover the victims' remains and belongings continue. The government initiated a fresh search of the crash site in April, approximately a year after the tragedy, following complaints that many remains and victim items remained unattended and were treated as if they were garbage. An official from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board mentioned that the completion of the search remains uncertain, pending discussions with the bereaved families.