[Aircraft Disaster] "We Will Remember Together"... Tearful Memorial Ceremony

Joint Memorial Service Held for Jeju Air Disaster Victims
Attended by Over 1,200 Including Bereaved Families and Government Officials
"Full Efforts to Determine Cause and Establish Measures to Prevent Recurrence"

On the 18th, a joint memorial service was held at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do for the victims of the December 29 Jeju Air passenger plane disaster. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and organized by Jeollanam-do, Gwangju City, and Muan County. Photo by Song Bohyun

A joint memorial service was solemnly held on the 18th to honor the victims of the December 29 Jeju Air passenger plane disaster and to comfort their bereaved families.

The joint memorial service was held in the departure hall on the second floor of Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province in the morning. Over 1,200 people attended, including the bereaved families of the Jeju Air disaster, Choi Sangmok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly, Kwon Youngse, Chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee, Kwon Seongdong, Floor Leader, Lee Jaemyung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, South Jeolla Province, and Gwangju City.

The memorial began with a performance of the Jindo Ssitgimgut, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, followed by the national ceremony, a moment of silence for the victims, memorial speeches, a tribute video, and memorial performances.

The joint memorial service for the victims of the December 29 Jeju Air passenger plane disaster was held on the morning of the 18th at Muan Airport in Jeollanam-do. The event began with a memorial performance by about 20 members of the Jindo Ssikkimgut Preservation Society from Jeollanam-do, aimed at relieving the deceased's resentment and praying for their rebirth in paradise. Bereaved families repeatedly wiped away tears as they watched the performances, which included Gopuri, Ssikkim, Nekolligi, Jijeon dance, and Gildakum. Photo by Bo-Hyun Song

During the memorial, the bereaved families were moved to tears as they remembered their loved ones who had passed away.

When photos of the victims, filled with memories of the bereaved families, appeared in the tribute video and performances, many wept, crying out, "How could you leave us so soon...?"

A daughter who lost her father in the disaster recalled memories with the deceased by reading a letter.

She said, "When I first heard about the accident in the news, I couldn't believe it. But when I learned my father was on the passenger list, my heart sank. At the airport, even before the number of fatalities was confirmed, I was told I was a family member of a victim, and my heart dropped again. Even after hearing there was no hope, I desperately wished the rescued person would be my father."

She continued, "I remember the last phone call when my father said he wanted to see his granddaughter. I regret not stopping him from going on the trip. Thank you for always video calling to see me and your granddaughter, and for being my father and her grandfather."

The bereaved families appealed to the government to thoroughly investigate the cause of the disaster.

Park Hanshin, head of the Jeju Air Disaster Bereaved Families Association, said, "It has been over 20 days since they left this world. But for us, time has stopped before the accident. I will live my life to the fullest so that when we meet again, I can smile and say, 'I lived well for both of us.' Revealing the cause of the disaster, which took their lives without them even knowing why, will be the first step."

He added, "Please uncover the cause of the disaster. I hope it will be revealed fairly and transparently, and explained to all the bereaved families and the people who care about this tragedy. I also ask the political community and relevant agencies to ensure that such an accident never happens again in Korea."

There are 1,229 pink ribbons expressing condolences hanging on the metal fence near the site of the Muan Jeju Air disaster. Photo by Song Bohyun

The attendees pledged to do their utmost to determine the cause of the accident through a thorough investigation and to establish measures to prevent recurrence.

Choi Sangmok, Acting President, said, "We will do our best to clearly determine the cause of the accident through thorough investigation and analysis, and to promptly prepare necessary improvements. In this process, we will transparently disclose all investigation progress and keep the bereaved families fully informed."

Speaker Woo Wonshik said, "Last week, the National Assembly formed a special committee on the December 29 passenger plane disaster, and yesterday we resolved that strict measures are needed to protect the honor and rights of the victims and their families. We will push for necessary legislation to prevent secondary harm, and devote ourselves to enacting a special law to provide relief for the victims and bereaved families, uncover the truth, and establish measures to prevent recurrence."

Meanwhile, at around 9:03 a.m. on December 29 last year, a Jeju Air passenger plane arriving from Bangkok collided with a localizer concrete mound outside the runway at Muan International Airport and exploded. Of the 181 people on board (6 crew members and 175 passengers), 179 lost their lives in the accident.