The Office for Government Policy Coordination said it will seek disciplinary action against 12 public officials for mishandling and neglecting the remains of victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster.
The Government Joint Public Service Inspection Team under the Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 30th announced the results of an inspection conducted for about a month from on the 23rd, targeting related agencies including the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, fire authorities, police, and the military.
Earlier, on Dec. 29, 2024, a Jeju Air passenger plane veered off the runway and struck a concrete structure while attempting to land at Muan International Airport. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed.
The investigation was conducted on the 12th last month at the direction of President Lee Jae-myung. The aim was to find out why the recovery of remains was not properly carried out in the early stages of the accident and how the remains were left unattended for more than a year.
The inspection team found that fire and police authorities failed to properly conduct initial searches and recovery. It notified the relevant ministries of the findings on 12 officials who mishandled their duties and decided to request disciplinary action.
Those subject to the request include the then Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency chief and the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters chief who commanded and supervised the scene, six members of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, and four from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). Taking into account post-traumatic stress among on-site working staff, the team decided to focus accountability on those in charge.
The inspection team argued that the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board placed body parts mixed with debris into large sacks and left them unattended for an extended period without properly identifying the commingled remains. It also concluded there were faults such as placing the board, which should operate independently, under the Central Accident Management Headquarters led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and demanding unnecessary materials to respond to media and National Assembly inquiries.
Problems also arose in the process of deciding to end the search. According to the inspection team, the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters, which oversaw the initial search, ended the first search on Jan. 7 last year even though remains were still being found at the accident site. The second search was handled by the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, which, despite knowing that remains had been found even the day after the search ended, did not consider whether to conduct an additional search.
Among the debris left at Muan Airport, part of the fuselage containing the auxiliary power unit (APU) was also found. The inspection team said it "plans to notify authorities to promptly collect the fuselage and take necessary measures, including additional investigation."
The inspection team said it "acted swiftly to help ease, even a little, the pain of the bereaved families who are suffering additional anguish due to the belated recovery of remains," adding, "We will ensure that the National Fire Agency and other related agencies promptly overhaul their systems so that similar cases do not recur."