Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hea-kyung boarded the newly introduced presidential jet, the "new Air Force No. 2," for the first time after attending the 66th anniversary ceremony of the March 15 uprising in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, on the 15th, the Blue House said on the 16th.
Before boarding the day prior, the presidential couple received a status briefing on the new aircraft from the Presidential Security Service and took commemorative photos with working-level staff. The president usually uses Air Force No. 1 for overseas trips, but boards the smaller No. 2 for tours in Asia or domestic travel. Although it is the president's dedicated aircraft, other government delegations, including the prime minister, have also used No. 2.
The existing Air Force No. 2 was introduced in 1985 and operated for more than 40 years. In July 2018, the standing committee of the National Security Council (NSC) decided to introduce a new No. 2.
The new No. 2 has improved cruising speed and maximum range compared with the previous model. As a result, it can fly nonstop to key countries such as Indonesia and Uzbekistan without refueling.
No. 2 is designed with the Taegeukgi motif, the same as the previous presidential jet. The Blue House said the font used for the words "Republic of Korea" on the fuselage adapts the woodblock type of "Yongbieocheonga," the first Korean literary work, and the metal type used in the "Korean Declaration of Independence." The new No. 2 will be operated as Korea's presidential jet for the next five years and is set to support key national missions, including the president's domestic and overseas trips.