On Dec. 29, a Jeju Air passenger jet crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in the southwestern city of Muan.
Of the 181 people aboard, only two crewmembers survived one of the country’s worst aviation disasters.
Organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the memorial event was held on the second floor of the airport with the attendance of around 1,500 people, including over 700 family members of the victims, lawmakers and local government officials.
The service began with a traditional shamanic performance intended to soothe the spirits of the deceased, followed by a moment of silence, a floral tribute and the lighting of incense.
LED displays showed the names of all 179 victims and memorial messages left on the airport's stairways, while families laid flowers and paid their respects.
He also urged the authorities to investigate the cause of the crash thoroughly in a fair and transparent process.
The reading of letters from the bereaved families followed.
"Dad wasn't just a father but a friend and mentor. I was truly happy to be born as your daughter. I will remember every moment we shared together," Kim Da-hye, who lost her father, tearfully recalled.
Acting President and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok expressed deep condolences and pledged the government's full support for the bereaved families.
"We will provide all possible assistance to help you heal and return to daily life," he said.
The event concluded with a performance of a song remembering the victims, after which the attendees visited the site of the crash.
The Jeju Air flight en route from Bangkok, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, made an emergency crash landing at 9:03 a.m. after its landing gear failed.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft skidded off the runway before slamming into a concrete wall and bursting into flames.
A joint investigation with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the aircraft's manufacturer, Boeing, is underway to determine the cause of the disaster.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on Thursday, about 17 pieces of bird feathers and bloodstains found on the engines of the crashed aircraft were sent to the National Institute of Biological Resources for analysis.
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