South Jeolla Province Welcomes President Lee Jaemyung's Attention to Reopening Muan Airport

Statement Issued on President's Remarks at the National Tourism Strategy Meeting
Calls for Swift Completion of Investigation and Roadmap Before Launch of Integrated Metropolitan City

Exterior view of Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Office

On the 26th, South Jeolla Province issued a statement welcoming President Lee Jaemyung's remarks at the National Tourism Strategy Meeting, in which he ordered that discussions on reopening Muan International Airport be promptly carried out in consultation with the bereaved families, and called on the government to implement this swiftly and responsibly.

In its statement that day, South Jeolla Province expressed its gratitude for President Lee's instruction at the National Tourism Strategy Meeting on the 25th to promptly proceed, in consultation with the bereaved families, with discussions on reopening Muan International Airport, which has been closed for more than a year following the December 29 passenger plane disaster.

South Jeolla Province has continuously urged the central government both to clearly determine the cause of the passenger plane disaster and to reopen Muan International Airport. In particular, through activities such as the National Assembly's Special Committee for a Parliamentary Investigation, some issues such as the inadequacy of the glide slope facility and shortcomings in operations were identified, which made the government's responsibility even clearer.

South Jeolla Province stressed that the relevant ministries and agencies must come up with swift and responsible countermeasures. To this end, it requested: the prompt completion of the accident investigation and the release of the findings; responsible measures and an apology for administrative mistakes; and the preparation of a roadmap for reopening before the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City on July 1.

It also stated that, given the great inconvenience to local residents and the significant damage to the regional economy caused by the prolonged closure of the airport, safety measures for risk factors such as the glide slope facility must be implemented in parallel.

South Jeolla Province said, "We will do our utmost until the end for the full healing of the bereaved families and the safe reopening of Muan International Airport."