Government Pushes for Renewed Search for Victims' Remains in Jeju Air Crash

The government is launching a large-scale re-search of the accident site and surrounding areas to find the last traces of victims from the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, which has spanned decades. This decision comes after criticism that the initial recovery of remains was inadequate, highlighted by the belated discovery of additional victims' remains in February, over a year and two months after the crash, during a re-investigation of the aircraft debris.

The re-search will commence tomorrow and last for approximately two months, focusing on the accident site itself and extending to surrounding areas including the vicinity of the outer fences and the runway access roads within Muan Airport. A total of approximately 250 personnel from civilian, governmental, military, and police sectors will participate, including 100 each from the police and military, 20 from the fire department, the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, South Jeolla Province, Muan County, and victims' families.

Yoon Chang-ryeol, Director-General of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, stated that the measure is intended to address shortcomings in the recovery process and ensure that no precious traces of the victims are missed. The government will provide excavation and identification training with the assistance of the Ministry of National Defense's Human Remains Excavation and Identification Team and civilian experts, striving for the thorough recovery of remains and personal belongings.

President Lee Jae-myung, after receiving a report on the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster on the 12th of last month, had previously ordered the responsible parties to be held accountable and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the failure to recover remains early in the accident.