South Korea Launches Committee to Investigate Jeju Air Crash

South Korea’s National Assembly has formed a special parliamentary committee to probe the cause of the fatal Jeju Air plane crash that occurred last year, resulting in 179 deaths. The crash happened when a Jeju Air jet from Bangkok caught fire after overshooting the runway and crashing into a concrete mound during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport, located about 290 kilometers south of Seoul, following a bird strike. The 18-member committee, set to operate for a minimum of 40 days, aims to examine various factors potentially responsible for the crash, such as the bird strike, the mound the jet collided with, and any potential aircraft malfunctions. Additionally, the committee will assess whether there were any attempts to conceal information during the government’s investigation into the crash. The launch of this committee follows the government’s decision to postpone the announcement of the interim investigation results earlier this month. Family members of the crash victims have expressed concerns about the transparency and credibility of the government’s investigation, advocating for an independent inquiry. Recently, a group of family members of the victims protested by shaving their heads, questioning the credibility of the probe and demanding an independent investigation. A committee under the transport ministry is scheduled to conduct a two-day hearing to reveal the interim results of the tragic incident that occurred on December 29 last year at Muan International Airport, claiming 179 lives. A coalition representing the victims’ families and other civic organizations protested outside the presidential office compound in central Seoul, accusing the committee of lacking transparency. Kim Yoo-jin, who leads the group of bereaved family members, criticized the transport ministry for restricting information flow through a ‘self-investigation’ and ‘black-out investigation’ approach. The group called for an independent body under the prime minister to handle the investigation and requested a delay in the hearing, citing concerns about the committee’s affiliation with the transport ministry, which oversees aviation policy. During the protest, five individuals shaved their heads, and some participants clashed with the police while attempting to meet President Lee Jae Myung.