<중대본> "Support for Bereaved Families Continues After Funeral... Strict Response to Defamatory Posts"

Legal consultation, support via phone and visits
Ongoing psychological counseling near bereaved families' residences

The government announced that it will continue to provide support such as free legal consultations and psychological recovery for the bereaved families of the Jeju Air passenger plane accident even after the victims' funerals are completed. It also plans to take strict action against malicious online posts and videos that damage the honor of the bereaved families.

Lee Han-kyung, Director of the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said at the 10th meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for the Jeju Air passenger plane accident on the 5th, "Currently, 146 victims have been returned to their families," and added, "The government will carefully look after the bereaved families even after the funerals and continue to provide necessary support."

Yonhap News

Director Lee explained, "We are making efforts to provide meticulous and sufficient support centered on the National Trauma Center, including psychological support, legal consultations on inheritance and compensation, and emergency care for the bereaved families," and added, "To facilitate the submission of documents by the bereaved families, various certificates have been simplified, and from the time of the funerals, dedicated officials will assist with the issuance of certificates and other paperwork."

The Ministry of Justice is currently dispatching experts from the Korea Legal Aid Corporation to the Muan Airport Integrated Support Center to provide free legal consultations, and plans to continue consultations through visits, phone calls, and on-site services in the future. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Jeollanam-do Province, and Gwangju Metropolitan City have agreed to continue psychological counseling near the residences of the bereaved families through the National and Regional Trauma Centers, Disaster Psychological Recovery Support Centers, and Mental Health Welfare Centers.

The National Police Agency is accelerating investigations in accordance with its strict response policy against acts of writing and distributing online posts and videos that damage the honor of the victims and their families. Currently, investigations and pre-indictment inquiries have been initiated for 99 cases, and suspects who posted malicious posts insulting the bereaved families were arrested the day before.

Additionally, complaints and accusations urging punishment for malicious posts will be received sequentially, and a field reporting center has been established and is operating on the 2nd floor of Muan Airport reflecting the opinions of the bereaved families.

Director Lee said, "We deeply thank everyone who shares and comforts the pain of the bereaved families, and the government will do its best in accident response, support for the bereaved families, and cause investigation."