South Korean President Lee Jae Myung offered his heartfelt apologies on Monday over the fatal Jeju Air plane crash that claimed 179 lives a year ago, pledging a credible investigation into the key questions surrounding the tragedy, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The Jeju Air jet, en route from Bangkok, burst into flames after overshooting the runway and striking a concrete mound during an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport following a bird strike on December 29 last year. Of the 181 people on board, only two survived.
“I know no words can fully offer comfort,” Lee said in a video message marking the first anniversary of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster. “As the president entrusted with protecting the lives and safety of the people, I offer my deepest apology.”
Lee emphasised that the country needs “real change and action, not hollow promises,” vowing full support for a thorough probe into the cause of the crash and comprehensive assistance for the bereaved families.
To this end, the government plans to strengthen the independence and professionalism of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board under the Transport Ministry, and to make every effort to determine what went wrong.
Helping the families return to their daily lives will be a top priority, with ongoing support ranging from psychological care and medical treatment to legal aid and livelihood assistance, Lee said.
“The deadly crash clearly exposed structural problems and limitations in our society,” he added. “Ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again is the very least we can do to honour the victims.”
Last week, the National Assembly launched a special parliamentary committee to investigate the crash in detail, examining possible contributing factors including the bird strike, the concrete mound the jet hit, and potential aircraft defects.
