Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Jeju Air crash cause still unclear 1 year on
Police and firefighters work at the site of a deadly aviation accident at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Jan. 6, days after a plane operated by Jeju Air crashed on Dec. 29, killing 179. Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
Bereaved families call for more reliable, independent investigation
The investigation into last year's deadly Jeju Air crash has made little progress in identifying its exact cause, even as of its first anniversary on Monday.
The crash, which occurred at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, claimed 179 lives when the plane collided with a concrete barrier.
The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, the main body overseeing the investigation, was expected to release an interim report by the end of the year.
However, the plan ran into strong opposition from the victims' families, who claim that the board conducted an “unreliable” investigation and rushed to announce its findings without clear evidence.
In July, the board presented its initial findings to the families, saying that the pilot had mistakenly shut down the left engine, rather than the right, which was severely damaged by a bird strike.
The board was scheduled to make its findings public, but canceled the plan after strong backlash from the families, who argued that it was attempting to shift responsibility onto the deceased pilot.
The families also questioned the board's credibility, since it is under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is in charge of managing and overseeing airports nationwide. As a result, the land ministry promised to move the board to an independent investigative organization under the Prime Minister’s Office.
Bereaved families of the victims of the plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province stage a protest in Seoul, Dec. 20, calling for a new investigation into the cause of the accident. Yonhap
The land ministry pledged to support the speedy transfer of control.
“We agree on the need to strengthen the independence of the board,” Land Minister Kim Yun-duk said Dec. 16. “The authority will try its best to complete the process swiftly by actively participating in relevant preparation for law revision.”
The absence of an official accident report from the board has also resulted in little progress in the police investigation.
Police have so far executed four search and seizure warrants over the crash, confiscating thousands of documents and evidence regarding the construction of the airport and the circumstances around the accident. Some 70 witnesses and suspects were questioned, with investigation reports totaling around 15,000 pages.
However, police remain hindered in proceeding with investigative steps, such as taking over criminal procedures for those held responsible for the accident, due to the board's delays.
With the post-accident investigation showing no signs of real progress, the exact timeline for the resumption of operations at Muan International Airport remains unclear. The airport suspended its operations following the crash a year ago, and the land ministry has since extended the closure period every three months due to the delayed investigation.
The airport will be closed until at least Jan. 5 next year, but it is widely expected that it will not be able to resume operations for several more months.