The families of victims from the December 29 Muan Airport disaster will hold a rally near the Blue House on the 17th to demand accountability and a thorough investigation.
The families announced the rally schedule on the 7th, stating they plan to hold an initial gathering in front of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan at around 11 a.m. before marching to the vicinity of the Blue House. A second gathering is scheduled for around 1 p.m. in front of the Cheongun-Hyoja-dong Community Center.
They expressed concern that nearly two years after the tragedy, investigations into the cause of the accident and accountability for those responsible have not been concluded. This will be the first time in nearly a year that the families will march in the streets of Seoul since they held a rally with portraits of the deceased in front of the War Memorial to mark 300 days since the disaster last November.
The families are also preparing for a third funeral as additional remains were recovered from the accident site. They plan to decide whether to hold a joint or individual funeral after completing further searches of the localizer concrete mounds.
Investigations into the cause of the disaster and accountability are still ongoing. In August, police referred seven officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to prosecutors for allegedly preparing and distributing false reports stating that the localizer at Muan Airport was installed in accordance with regulations. According to police, these officials were aware that the localizer did not comply with domestic and international standards.
In total, 67 individuals have been charged with professional negligence resulting in death or injury related to the disaster, and investigations into the cause of the accident continue beyond the localizer issue. However, the final results of the investigation into the cause of the accident are expected to be announced after the findings of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Committee are released.
The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Committee is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the accident, with assistance from overseas experts. The families plan to rally in downtown Seoul to urge for a swift resolution to the ongoing investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Meanwhile, the December 29 disaster involved Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and crash-landed at Muan International Airport, veering off the runway and colliding with a concrete mound where a localizer was installed. Of the 181 people on board, 179 lost their lives.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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