South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Monday offered a profound apology for the crash of a Jeju Airlines jet that killed 179 people a year ago and promised a credible investigation into key issues surrounding the tragic accident. On December 29 last year, a Jeju Air passenger plane taking off from Bangkok, Thailand, encountered a bird strike at Muan International Airport. It overran the runway during an emergency landing, hit a concrete mound, and then caught fire. All but two of the 181 people on board were killed.
"I know that no words can be enough to comfort me," Lee said in a video address marking the first anniversary of South Korea's worst air crash. "As president, I offer my deepest apology."
Lee Jae-myung said what South Korea needs now is "real changes and actions, not empty promises," and he vowed to fully support a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash and provide comprehensive assistance to the families of the victims.
Li Zaiming said that the government will strengthen the independence and professionalism of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Committee under the Ministry of Transport and make every effort to identify the problem.
Helping these families resume their daily lives will be a top priority, he said, with ongoing support ranging from psychological care and medical care to legal aid and livelihood assistance.
He said: "This fatal crash clearly exposed the structural problems and limitations of our society. Ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again is the least we can do to the victims."
Last week, South Korea's National Assembly established a special committee to investigate the exact cause of the crash, looking into possible factors such as a bird strike, the concrete mound the plane hit, and potential aircraft defects.
