Calls for swift talks, including agreement with bereaved families
President Lee Jaemyung is speaking at the Expanded National Tourism Strategy Meeting held at the Blue House on the 25th. Yonhap News
On the 25th, President Lee Jaemyeong ordered that discussions on reopening Muan International Airport, including consultations with the families of the victims, be carried out swiftly, in connection with the prolonged closure of the airport following the December 29, 2024 Muan air disaster involving a Jeju Air passenger plane.
At the Expanded National Tourism Strategy Meeting held at the Blue House that day, President Lee made these remarks after Gwangju Tourism Organization President Jung Jaeyoung said that "more than a year has passed since Muan International Airport was closed, and the local tourism industry is on the verge of collapse."
Muan Airport, which has remained closed since the passenger plane disaster that occurred in December 2024, had been scheduled to reopen after the completion of recovery efforts. However, the closure has continued because the investigation into the cause of the accident has not yet been completed.
As a result, residents in the Gwangju and South Jeolla regions have continued to point out the inconvenience of using international flights, and alongside calls for a swift reopening, opinions have been raised that Gwangju Airport, a domestic airport, should temporarily operate international routes.
Referring to this series of developments, President Lee asked Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoonduk, "Have you ever reviewed the idea of temporarily using Gwangju Airport for international flights until Muan Airport is reopened?"
When Minister Kim replied, "We are reviewing it, but since Gwangju Airport is not an international airport, efforts and preparations are needed to change the system," President Lee nodded and said, "The system needs to be put in place, and there will likely be various issues."
He then added, "The most important thing is to reopen Muan Airport as quickly as possible."
President Lee went on to ask, "When will we be able to reopen Muan Airport? Are you extending the closure to preserve the site for the accident investigation?" Minister Kim answered, "If that issue is resolved properly, we can proceed immediately in the first half of this year."
President Lee then said, "As long as the accident site is preserved properly and the records are kept accurately, I do not think the families of the victims of the air disaster will strongly oppose reopening," and urged, "Resume the discussions again as quickly as possible. We cannot drag this out indefinitely. Please conduct thorough consultations."
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