Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, emphasized on the 2nd regarding the Muan International Airport Jeju Air disaster, “The police and other judicial authorities should take strict legal action against any matters that damage the honor of the victims and their bereaved families through monitoring.”
In his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Acting Prime Minister Choi stated, “It has been reported that reckless posts, malicious comments, false and manipulated information, and provocative videos about the victims and their families are being shared through some internet SNS and other media.” He appealed, “I earnestly ask that actions causing pain to the bereaved families and well-meaning related parties be absolutely refrained from.”
Regarding the accident investigation, he said, “A special safety inspection is being conducted on 101 aircraft operated by six airlines using the same model as the one involved in this accident.” He instructed, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related agencies should thoroughly inspect flight operations, maintenance, education, and training until the end, and immediately take corrective measures if any problems are found.” Acting Prime Minister Choi explained, “The data extracted from the voice recorder will be converted to audio by tomorrow, and the flight data recorder analysis will begin at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with our investigators participating.”
On the same day, related agencies also discussed measures to prevent the spread of false and manipulated information following requests from the bereaved families to stop the dissemination of content defaming the families and workers on social networking services (SNS) and short-form videos.
The National Police Agency stated that it is intensively monitoring and deleting or blocking internet posts insulting the bereaved families, and is also investigating defamatory posts. They informed that not only posts insulting the bereaved families and victims but also the dissemination of fake news and speculative posts can be criminal acts, and that investigations will commence immediately upon recognition of such crimes.
The Korea Communications Commission requested broadcasters to comply with disaster reporting guidelines to prevent secondary damage to victims and their families caused by inaccurate, sensational, or emotional reporting. Furthermore, they plan to ask platform operators for cooperation to prevent the spread of insults, defamation, and false and manipulated information about victims and bereaved families online.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced plans to guide local governments to quickly provide emergency living expenses through deliberation for bereaved families facing livelihood difficulties during the recovery process. In addition, they informed that from today, in addition to consultations on local tax reductions and deferrals provided by the Integrated Support Center, consultations on national tax payment deferrals are also available.
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