Bereaved families of the victims of the December 29 Muan Airport Jeju Air passenger plane disaster shave their heads in front of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 1st, urging the suspension of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board's public hearing and the independence of the investigative body. /Courtesy of News1

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board said it will postpone the public hearing that had been scheduled for Dec. 4–5 in connection with the Jeju Air passenger plane accident that occurred at Muan Airport in December last year. The decision came after the bereaved families and the National Assembly's "Dec. 29 passenger plane disaster special committee" formally requested a delay, and after taking into account safety concerns raised on site.

The board said, "The bereaved families and the National Assembly's Dec. 29 passenger plane disaster special committee officially requested a postponement," adding, "We adjusted the schedule after also considering safety concerns raised on site." The decision to postpone was finalized through deliberation and a vote by the aviation subcommittee held that day.

The board had planned to disclose the findings to date and the results of technical analysis at the public hearing. The committee said, "We have explained the investigation procedures and progress transparently," adding, "We will continue to provide necessary information to the bereaved families to the extent it does not affect the investigation process."

However, prior disclosure was restricted for key analysis details and matters directly related to investigative judgments. The committee said, "If information is provided only to specific parties, it could cause misunderstandings about the impartiality and independence of the investigation," adding, "All information will be provided under the same standards."

The future schedule will be decided again after committee deliberation. The board said, "We will provide prompt and accurate guidance as soon as the procedures are set."

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