Ruling and Opposition Parties Step Up to Manage 'Muan Disaster'... Leadership Visits Site

All Major Parties Including People Power Party and Democratic Party Visit Muan County
Kwon Young-se "Will Fulfill Our Role"...Establishment of Countermeasure Committee
Lee Jae-myung "Accident Management is Important"...Preparation of Emergency Support Measures

The leadership of both the ruling and opposition parties took measures on the 30th regarding the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster that occurred at Muan International Airport in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do.

Kwon Seong-dong, Acting President and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, also visited the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster site at Muan Airport on the same day to assess the damage and discuss recovery plans. He arrived at Muan Airport around 10 a.m. and met with the bereaved families staying inside the terminal, saying, "First, I offer my condolences to the victims who have passed away and express my deepest sympathy to all of you." He continued, "It is truly shocking, and something that should never have happened," adding, "We will do our best to heal your hearts as much as possible." He also said, "In difficult times like these, please stay strong, and we will do our part to ensure the funerals of the deceased are properly conducted."

Kwon Seong-dong (second from the right), Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, visited Muan International Airport in Jeonnam on the 30th to console the families of the victims of the aircraft disaster. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong

The People Power Party canceled the scheduled floor countermeasure meeting and focused on managing the accident by visiting the site. At the disaster site that day, members of the 'Muan Airport Aircraft Accident Countermeasure Committee' formed by the People Power Party the previous day, along with Kim Sang-hoon, Chairman of the Policy Committee, accompanied the visit. Kwon Young-se, who was nominated as the party's Emergency Response Committee Chairman, was also scheduled to visit the site as his first official activity after completing the inauguration process through a national committee vote that morning.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Muan-gun on the afternoon of the 29th, held a meeting, and met with the bereaved families at night to offer condolences. The Democratic Party, in cooperation with Kim Kyung-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, and Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, announced measures including legal support for the victims, provision of bedding, and installation of a memorial altar. From 10:30 a.m. that day, the Democratic Party held a Supreme Council meeting at the Jeollanam-do Party Office located in Muan-gun. The 'Aircraft Disaster Countermeasure Committee' established the previous day also participated. At the meeting, Lee said, "I cannot help but feel deeply saddened by the grief of the families who lost their loved ones overnight."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is comforting the families of the passengers involved in the Jeju Air plane explosion accident while kneeling at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do the previous afternoon. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Lee stated, "While identifying the cause and preparing countermeasures are important, what matters most now is managing the aftermath of the accident," adding, "Our party will do everything possible centered on the Countermeasure Committee." Furthermore, he said, "The Countermeasure Committee will remain on site and do its utmost to provide the specific assistance that the victims' families need." The Democratic Party had earlier formed the Countermeasure Committee chaired by Joo Cheol-hyun, Supreme Council member and Jeollanam-do Party Chairman, to respond promptly. The committee established a 'Situation Headquarters' at the Jeollanam-do Party Office and organized an accident response support team and a bereaved family support team to carry out targeted responses.

In addition to the People Power Party and the Democratic Party, other political parties such as the Party for National Innovation, Reform New Party, and Progressive Party have also established committees within their parties to respond to the disaster and have begun operating them.