"Not a Single Document in 300 Days": Jeju Air Disaster Families Kneel at National Assembly [2025 Audit]

Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Criticizes AIRC
"Why Haven't You Communicated?"

On October 29, the bereaved families of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster at Muan International Airport on December 29 knelt at the National Assembly, appealing for transparent disclosure of information and a thorough investigation into the truth.

Kim Yujin, representative of the Bereaved Families Association, attended the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee that day and stated, "Although the Accident Investigation Committee (AIRC) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport claims to be investigating the truth, they have not properly shared any information with the bereaved families." Kim continued, "In the 300 days since the accident, we have not received a single line of truth or a single document." Kim knelt at the audit, pleading, "Although 179 victims could not return home, we bereaved families ask that you open the door to the truth so we can return."

Kim Yujin, representative of the victims' families association, appealed on the 29th at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee hearing, saying, "Although 179 victims could not return home, we, the bereaved families, ask you to open the door to the truth so they can return." Photo by Yonhap News Agency and a reader.

Kim further stated, "The aircraft succeeded in making a belly landing, and everyone was alive until that point. However, the disaster escalated when the plane struck a concrete embankment, which was created in violation of numerous regulations, and exploded." Kim added, "Is it the state's attitude to protect the lives of its people to place all the blame on the pilot and a single bird?" Kim demanded that the investigation be suspended until the independence and expertise of the AIRC are ensured, that the investigation be transferred to an independent body, and that all original data related to the disaster be transparently disclosed.

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee strongly criticized the accident investigation authorities. Maeng Sungkyu, Chairman of the Committee, addressed Lee Seungyeol, head of the AIRC accident investigation team who appeared as a witness, saying, "Why have you not communicated sufficiently with the bereaved families, forcing them to make such heartbreaking pleas? Didn't you promise to fully resolve their grievances through sufficient communication at the start of the investigation?"

In response, Lee replied, "We tried our best to communicate," but Chairman Maeng pointed out again, "It seems there is a problem with your attitude." Chairman Maeng also stated, "Even if the AIRC is transferred to the Prime Minister's Office as the bereaved families wish, if the same personnel remain, the criticism of insufficient communication will continue." Lee responded, "We will hold a public hearing and release an interim report in December, marking one year since the accident, and will also disclose the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR)."

Kim Eibae, CEO of Jeju Air, is speaking at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency and readers

Chairman Maeng also addressed Kim Eibae, CEO of Jeju Air, who appeared as a witness, saying, "Jeju Air can only overcome its difficulties if it fully cooperates and the objective facts are established as quickly as possible." To Minister Kim Yoonduk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Chairman Maeng said, "There must be information that can be disclosed to the bereaved families and information that cannot. You must persuade them so that they can accept this."

Kim Eibae responded, "If given the opportunity, I believe we can communicate sufficiently with the bereaved families," and added, "We have already submitted all investigation materials, so there is no way for us to deliberately conceal anything."