South Korea Announces 7-Day National Mourning Period After Jeju Air Plane Crash

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Sunday, December 29, 2024 announced a week-long national mourning period. This decision was made after the Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport.

“Starting today, the government sets a national mourning period for seven days until midnight on January 4,” Choi said on Sunday, December 29, 2024 evening at a meeting of the Disaster Management and Safety Center Headquarters held in Seoul, as reported by The Korea Herald.

The meeting was the third time to discuss the fatal accident, which occurred the previous day when a Jeju Air plane attempting to land went off the runway at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province and caught fire.

During the mourning period, joint memorial altars will be set up at the crash site and in 17 cities and provinces, including South Jeolla, Gwangju, Seoul, and Sejong, according to the government. Flags will be flown at half-mast across ministries, local governments and public institutions, while public officials will wear mourning ribbons as a sign of respect.

“As the acting head of government responsible for the safety and lives of citizens, I am overwhelmed with indescribable sadness and regret,” said Choi, who also serves as finance minister and deputy prime minister.

He also declared Muan a special disaster zone and promised comprehensive support for those affected. A one-stop support center will be established at the crash site to streamline and coordinate assistance for the families left behind.

Each family will be assigned a dedicated public official to ensure personalized support, while a forensics team will be stationed at Muan airport to speed up the identification of victims.

Earlier, at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, the pilot of Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, who had been warned of a potential bird strike, gave a mayday signal and attempted an emergency landing due to being unable to use the plane's landing gear.

The plane overshot the runway and crashed into the guardrail. The fuselage was completely destroyed in the ensuing fire. As of 21:03 local time, 179 of the 181 people on board were confirmed dead, with only two crew members surviving the crash.