[Aircraft Crash] Anger Over Malicious Comments and Rumors by 'Fake Bereaved Families'

Police: 107 Fake News Posts Deleted... Distributors Being Identified
Central Disaster Headquarters Confirms Identities of All 179 Deceased

On the 29th, at the departure hall of Muan International Airport in Jeonnam, families of the victims were waiting after a Jeju Air passenger plane carrying 181 passengers collided with the outer wall of the runway during landing, causing a fire and resulting in a major disaster with most passengers deceased. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Amid the spread of indiscriminate fake news and malicious comments regarding the Jeju Air passenger plane accident at Muan International Airport, there have even been incidents of certain grieving families being accused of being "fake bereaved families."

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on the 1st, posts targeting Park Hanshin, the head of the Bereaved Families Association, were found on various social media platforms the previous day.

One netizen claimed, "A member of a certain political party tried to use this disaster as a stepping stone to make a name for himself and gain a position, but failed." Another netizen edited and uploaded some interview footage of Park, alleging, "There was someone impersonating a bereaved family member."

Posts insulting the bereaved have been found on various social media platforms. Screenshots from X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

Netizens are visiting the account of Han Shin Park, representative of the Bereaved Families Association, and leaving comments. Screenshot from Facebook.

These posts quickly spread, garnering tens of thousands of views through quoting and reposting. Netizens who agreed with these claims even found Park's social media accounts and left malicious comments such as "Don't you have any conscience?" and "Why are you acting as a representative of the bereaved families when you are not one yourself?"

In response, someone claiming to be Park's child posted a message.

He began by saying, "Currently, the term 'fake bereaved family' is rampant in comments on YouTube and news articles, so I am posting this out of frustration." He continued, "'Fake bereaved family' is not true. My father's younger brother, that is, my uncle, passed away in this accident," and expressed frustration, saying, "I don't know where this false news started spreading from."

He added, "I am scared and worried that my father might make a wrong decision because of this fake news and malicious comments," and appealed, "Please do not inflict further wounds on the bereaved families." He also said, "I told my father, 'There will always be political stories in situations like this, and there will definitely be people attacking you,' but he said, 'How can I just stand by when my younger brother died?'" He requested, "Please do not turn this into a political fight and focus on the accident itself."

In addition, there are numerous insulting posts online, not only about 'compensation for the bereaved families' but also containing defamatory content.

In this regard, the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency has launched an investigation into malicious online posts insulting the victims and bereaved families of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster.

According to the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, they identified three online posts insulting the bereaved families through their own monitoring on this day and are tracking down the authors. They also deleted or blocked 107 posts and comments that defamed or slandered the victims and bereaved families.

The representatives of the bereaved families emphasized at a briefing earlier that morning, "There are malicious rumors and slander circulating online about those in charge of the funerals," and added, "We have informed officials from each political party, and strong measures will be taken."

A Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency official stated, "We plan to deal strictly with posts mocking or insulting the victims and bereaved families in relation to the Jeju Air disaster."

The Gwangju Bar Association has formed a legal support team for the bereaved families and has been operating an on-site situation room at Muan Airport since the 30th of last month.

Firefighters are searching for fuel debris at the site of the Jeju Air passenger plane collision and explosion accident that occurred at Muan International Airport in Jeonnam on the 30th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Meanwhile, on the fourth day since the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, the identities of all 179 deceased have been confirmed as of the 1st.

According to the "Jeju Air Passenger Plane Accident Situation Report" announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 6 a.m. that day, the identities of all 179 deceased have been confirmed. Currently, 168 are being kept at a temporary mortuary, and 11 have been transferred to funeral homes. It was reported that the identities of the five deceased who had not been identified until the previous day were all confirmed on this day. There were a total of 181 people on board the accident aircraft, and two crew members were rescued after the accident.

Additionally, memorial altars will be operated nationwide until the 4th, which is the end of the national mourning period. In Jeonnam, there are three locations: in front of Gate 2 on the first floor of Muan International Airport, Muan Sports Park Gymnasium, and the Meeting Square at the Jeonnam Provincial Government Office. In Jeonbuk, it is on the first floor of the performance hall at the Jeonbuk Provincial Government Office, and in Gwangju, it is at the May 18 Democracy Square.