Controversy Over Concrete Berms at Runway Ends... Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Says They Also Exist in Cheongju and Yeosu

Runway End Concrete Berm Criticism
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: "Present at Other Airports as Well"
Plans to Inspect Compliance with 737-800 Maintenance Regulations

Joo Jong-kwan, Director of the Aviation Policy Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is giving a briefing on the "Muan Airport Jeju Air Passenger Plane Accident" at the Government Sejong Complex on the morning of the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

Controversy over the 'dundeok' related to the Muan Jeju Air disaster is growing. Claims have been raised that the scale of the accident increased because the crashed aircraft collided with a solid concrete dundeok. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) explained that "it is also installed at other domestic airports."

On the morning of the 30th, MOLIT, the government agency responsible for overseeing aviation safety, made this statement during a briefing on the Muan passenger plane accident held at the Government Sejong Complex. Joo Jong-wan, Director of the Aviation Policy Office at MOLIT, said, "At Muan Airport, an azimuth facility (localizer) is installed about 251 meters from the end of the runway outside the runway end safety area," adding, "Similar concrete azimuth facilities exist at Yeosu Airport and Cheongju Airport."

The azimuth facility is a type of antenna that helps aircraft approach the runway, consisting of a concrete foundation and antenna structure located on top of an earthen dundeok. It is very rare for such azimuth facilities to be constructed as protruding concrete structures rather than metal forms, leading to claims that this violates domestic and international regulations. The day before, the Jeju Air passenger plane collided with the azimuth facility and then a retaining wall during landing, causing the aircraft to break into two and resulting in the disaster. Regarding this, Director Joo stated, "Azimuth facilities cannot be installed arbitrarily; there are installation regulations," and added, "We plan to thoroughly investigate any connection to the accident."

Additionally, MOLIT plans to conduct a special inspection of the accident aircraft model introduced domestically. The aircraft involved is the B737-800 model manufactured by the American company Boeing. Most domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs) operate this model. Jeju Air operates 39 units, the largest number among domestic airlines, deploying them on flights. This is followed by T'way Air with 27 units, Jin Air with 19 units, Eastar Jet with 10 units, Air Incheon with 4 units, and Korean Air with 2 units. A MOLIT official said, "We plan to review whether various regulations are being properly followed based on records such as utilization rates, inspections, and maintenance conducted before and after aircraft operations."