'Peanut Rebellion' Park Chang-jin on Aircraft Disaster: "Let's Not Use It as a Political Tool"

"Long-lasting Aftereffects of the 1997 Guam Korean Air Incident"
"Currently, Accident Recovery and Consolation for Bereaved Families Take Priority"

Park Chang-jin, former chief purser of Korean Air who entered politics as a victim of the so-called 'Peanut Rage Incident,' commented on the Jeju Air disaster, saying, "At present, the priority is to handle the accident and offer condolences to the bereaved families," and urged, "Please refrain from making premature judgments, diagnoses, or using this incident as a tool for political strife."

Park Chang-jin, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo captured from Park Chang-jin's Instagram.

On the 30th, Park posted on his social media (SNS) revealing his trauma from the 1997 Korean Air accident in Guam and expressed these thoughts. He began by saying, "There is an excessive amount of talk surrounding this recent aircraft accident," and added, "As someone who worked at an airline for 24 years, I feel deep regret."

Park, a former Korean Air cabin purser and the victim of the 2014 Peanut Rage Incident, said, "I have two major traumas related to flying. One is a well-known story, and the other is the 1997 Korean Air accident in Guam."

The 1997 Korean Air accident in Guam occurred on August 6, when a passenger plane departing from Gimpo Airport bound for the U.S. territory of Guam crashed into a nearby jungle area, resulting in the deaths of 229 out of 254 passengers and crew. This was the second deadliest domestic aviation accident, following the 1983 Korean Air passenger plane shootdown over Soviet airspace, in which all 269 onboard perished.

Park stated, "I joined the company in 1996, and the following year the accident happened," and added, "The day after the accident, I was assigned to handle the transport of recovered bodies and families at the site and flew on those missions." He recalled, "Among the deceased were a fellow trainee crew member I had grown close to during the three months of training and a senior colleague I was friendly with. The process of returning home together with those who had become dear to me, carried in the cargo hold of the same aircraft as corpses, was a pain that felt like a knife cutting through my heart every moment."

He continued, "The aftereffects lasted for a very long time, and that pain is still deeply engraved in me," and urged, "Please think first of the pain of those who are suffering the most in this situation." He added, "Please consider the negative consequences that our excessive reactions might cause," and emphasized, "Do not mention this incident with premature judgments, diagnoses, or as a tool for political conflict."

Furthermore, he said, "Right now, the priority is accident recovery and comforting the bereaved families," and appealed, "Please demonstrate the power of a benevolent community. I earnestly ask for this."

Meanwhile, Park Chang-jin recently shared that he was appointed as a spokesperson for the Democratic Party on the 17th. Park, who entered politics as a victim of the Peanut Rage Incident, had previously joined the Justice Party, served as its vice representative, and later left the party.