Park Sang-woo, South Korea’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT), has announced his resignation following the December 29, 2024, Jeju Air tragedy.
Heavy responsibility.
According to Reuters, Sang-woo announced his resignation during a news event on January 7. The Minister accepted responsibility for the Boeing 737-800 crash, which killed 179 of the 181 passengers.
According to The Korean Herald, Sang-woo plans to resign once the country’s political situation stabilizes.
Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s President, declared martial law on December 3, 2024, plunging the country into a political crisis marked by impeachment votes – including those of Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s prime minister, who briefly served as acting president – and accusations of treason from various parties, including Yeol’s own.
Crash into a concrete structure.
The incident occurred on December 29, 2024, while the Jeju Air 737-800, registered as HL8088, was landing with its gear up at Muan International Airport (MWX). However, due to its excessive speed after landing, the aircraft scraped along the runway and collided into a concrete structure at the runway’s end.
Only two flight attendants survived the disaster on Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Muan. The two Jeju Air flight crew members sat in the rear of the 737-800.
Muan International has been closed since the event, and will stay so until January 14, according to the most recent MOLIT update, which extended the shutdown by seven days.
In a statement issued on December 29, Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim Yi-bae, apologized for the disaster and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the passengers and their families.
Safety inspections
Following the incident, MOLIT inspected the country’s 737-800 fleet of 101 aircraft from Air Incheon, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, and T’Way Air. The government stated that the inspections would continue until January 10.
South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) completed the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and sent the flight data recorder (FDR) for analysis to the United States in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
MOLIT plans to evaluate air navigation safety infrastructure at 13 airports in South Korea, including Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP), which serve the capital Seoul.
Why is South Korea’s Transport Minister resigning?
The Transport Minister announced his resignation following the Jeju Air crash, citing responsibility for aviation safety under his watch.
What happened in the Jeju Air crash?
The Jeju Air crash involved a significant aviation incident, prompting investigations into the cause and sparking public and governmental concern.
How has the public reacted to the Transport Minister’s resignation?
The public has expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the accountability move and others questioning broader systemic issues in aviation safety.
What steps are being taken to prevent future accidents?
Authorities are conducting thorough investigations and implementing stricter safety regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
How will this resignation impact South Korea’s aviation policies?
The resignation could lead to more scrutiny of aviation policies and reforms aimed at enhancing safety standards across the industry.