A year after the worst air disaster on South Korean soil, family members of the 179 people who died gathered on Monday (29) around the damaged concrete wall where Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed, demanding answers and a thorough investigation.
Hundreds of people surrounded the Muan International Airport site where the Boeing 737-800 crashed without its landing gear deployed, crashed into the barrier and exploded in a fireball on December 29, 2024.
Relatives say they are outraged by the lack of progress in discovering what happened that day. They paid tribute by lighting candles on a cake and singing happy birthday to the 16 victims born in December.
“We will not stop until the truth is finally revealed and those responsible are held accountable so that the lives of the 179 people are not lost in vain,” said Kim Yu-jin, representing the families at a ceremony at the airport.
Addressing mourners, government officials and the speaker of Parliament, Kim accused the government of focusing its energies on mitigating the consequences of the accident rather than conducting a proper investigation.
Relatives placed flowers on an altar and watched as the names of the dead were read and displayed on a screen, written on cards shaped like boarding passes.
“I hope the investigation will be carried out thoroughly so that those who deserve to be punished are punished,” said Ryu Kum-Ji, who lost his parents in the accident.
President Lee Jae Myung – who took office six months after the disaster – apologized to the families in a statement on Monday and said it was his duty to ensure there was no repeat of the tragedy.
“The disaster clearly exposed the systemic problems and limitations of our society,” Lee said. “What is needed now is not superficial promises or empty words, but real change and action.”
The government-led Air and Rail Accident Investigation Commission missed a one-year deadline to issue a report on the accident.
In a preliminary report released in January, the agency said the plane’s two engines suffered bird strikes during a previous approach to the airport.
In July, investigators said the left turbine, which suffered less damage than the right after bird strikes, had been shut down before the forced landing.
Few other details have emerged since then, with questions remaining about the design of the runway, including the wall, and what actions the pilots may have taken in the final minutes of the flight.
Family representatives raised questions about the committee’s autonomy and technical expertise and said investigators appeared to blame pilots rather than investigate other factors. Parliament is analyzing a project to reformulate the organization.
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