Why did Prime Minister Han Seong-sook visit the Jeju Air crash site in Muan?

She went to meet bereaved family members, express sympathy, and acknowledge the government's responsibility. She also offered a flower at the mourning altar set up at the airport.

What did Han Seong-sook say about the crash investigation board and the cause of the Jeju Air accident?

Han said the board was moved under the prime minister's office to secure independence and fairness. She also said the families most want the exact cause determined.

What is the latest status of the remains recovery effort at the Jeju Air crash site?

The government restarted combing the site in April after complaints that remains and personal items were still there. An official said there is no determined end date yet, and the timing will be discussed with the families.

PM visits Jeju Air crash site, seeks to comfort bereaved families

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Summary

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook visited Muan International Airport on Thursday to comfort bereaved families of the 179 Jeju Air crash victims. She said the government feels responsible and wants the exact cause to be determined. Officials said the remains recovery search is still ongoing, with no date set for when it will end.

Key Facts

Han said the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board was moved from the land ministry to the prime minister's office to ensure independence and fairness.
The crash site search resumed in April, more than a year after the Dec. 29, 2024 accident, after complaints that remains and belongings had been left unattended.
The airport official said it has not been determined when the recovery work will finish.
The bereaved families are still seeking the exact cause of the crash and who is responsible.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 13, 2026 3:23 pm KST

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, right, visits Muan International Airport in Gwangju, Thursday, where a Jeju Air plane crashed into a concrete mount and erupted into flames in 2024. Yonhap

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on Thursday visited the site of a 2024 plane crash and sought to comfort bereaved families of the 179 victims amid delays in recovering the remains and determining what exactly led to the crash and who is responsible.

"I am truly sorry and heavy hearted to see you all here," Han said during a meeting with bereaved family members at Muan International Airport, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul, where the Jeju Air plane belly-landed, crashed into a concrete mount and erupted into flames on Dec. 29, 2024.

"It is hard to imagine what you have gone through," she said. "As a government representative, I feel responsibility."

Han said she is aware that what the bereaved families want the most is to determine the exact cause, adding that the reason the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board moved from the land ministry to under the prime minister's office is to ensure its independence and fairness.

Han also offered a flower at the mourning altar set up at the airport.

Efforts to recover the victims' remains and belongings are still ongoing.

The government began combing the crash site again in April, more than a year after the crash, following complaints that many pieces of remains and items belonging to the victims remained unattended at the site, some even in ton bags or gunny sacks as if they were garbage.

An official of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board said it has not been determined when the search will wind up, adding that they will determine the matter through discussions with the bereaved families.

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