Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, expressed deep apologies as the minister responsible for air traffic safety regarding the Jeju Air passenger plane accident that occurred at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province on the 29th.
Minister Park stated at around 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of Muan Airport, where the families of the accident victims were waiting, that both the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and he himself bear the primary responsibility for the incident and will not shirk responsibility. He noted, 'I have come down to the site, and it is difficult to put into words,' adding that the Ministry is conducting a swift investigation into the cause of the accident.
The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, bound for Muan, had a total of 181 people on board, including 175 passengers and six crew members. According to the National Fire Agency, as of 5:53 p.m., 177 people have been confirmed dead. This includes 82 men, 84 women, and 11 individuals whose genders have not been identified. The identities of 57 people have been confirmed. Two people are missing, and two crew members were rescued and transported to a hospital in Seoul.
Minister Park said, 'We are verifying identities through fingerprint or DNA tests with the cooperation of the police. We will contact the families as soon as identifications are made,' further adding, 'We will arrange for funeral procedures to be carried out in places where families have affiliations, according to their wishes.'
However, considering the nature of the accident, it is expected to take some time for identification. We appreciate your patience,' he said. The accident involved a bird strike that caused the landing gear to fail to deploy, and an attempted belly landing led to the plane overshooting the runway, crashing into the airport's outer wall, and exploding. The aircraft has been completely destroyed.
Minister Park stated that once the urgent situation is resolved, the government, along with local governments, will work together on various matters such as procedures to honor the victims and measures to comfort the families and address their grief, ensuring no one's health is compromised in the cold weather.
Kim Young-rok, governor of South Jeolla Province, explained that efforts are being made to expedite DNA testing for those whose identities have not been confirmed, as requested by the families. The province has arranged accommodations for the families of the victims and assigned dedicated public officials to each family. Assistance will also be provided to families who choose to stay overnight at the airport to ensure they are not inconvenienced.
A government joint incense altar will be set up at Muan Comprehensive Sports Park at 11 a.m. on the 30th. This location is about 5 kilometers away from the airport. Governor Kim stated that the province will observe a week-long mourning period with all public officials participating in the observance, noting that due to the significant sacrifice of residents, joint incense altars will also be installed at the city and county levels. He further expressed sorrow over the higher casualties in Gwangju and stated that efforts will be made to honor residents from other provinces and cities appropriately.