Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, "Safety Inspection of Provincial Rental and Firefighting Helicopters"

Support for Emergency Relief Expenses and Bereaved Families through Provincial and Relief Funds

Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae Visits the Site of the Yangyang Helicopter Crash [Gangwon Province]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, announced on the 28th that he will "inspect the safety of leased helicopters operated within the province and the helicopters of the provincial fire department" in relation to the helicopter crash accident during a wildfire patrol in Yangyang on the 27th.

At a meeting with reporters that day, Governor Kim said, "I pray for the souls of the victims who lost their lives in the Yangyang helicopter crash accident and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families."

He continued, "We have established an integrated disaster site support headquarters in Yangyang County and dispatched on-site situation managers to fully investigate the cause of the accident," adding, "If requested by Yangyang County, we will provide emergency relief funds through the provincial relief fund and do our best to support the bereaved families."

Governor Kim also said, "I have ordered a safety inspection of leased helicopters operated by local governments within the province," and added, "We will also strengthen safety inspections of helicopters operated by the provincial fire department."

In Gangwon Province, a total of nine leased helicopters, including the one involved in this crash, are currently in operation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Accident Investigation Committee is reportedly conducting an investigation at the accident site to determine the cause of the accident.

Earlier, at around 10:50 a.m. on the 27th, a medium-sized leased helicopter of the S-58T model crashed in a mountain near Myeongjusa Temple in Eoseongjeon-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County, resulting in the deaths of all five passengers on board.