South Korea Demands Justice for Jeju Air Crash Victims

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung orders disciplinary action against officials for their mishandling of victim recovery in the 2024 Jeju Air crash, which killed 179 people. An audit uncovered decades of oversight failures, contributing to the tragedy. Victims’ families demand answers and accountability.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has mandated stringent disciplinary measures against officials for delays in recovering remains from the 2024 Jeju Air crash, which claimed 179 lives, his office announced Thursday.

Following a review that found minimal recovery progress, President Lee expressed regret and called for a thorough investigation into why remains, personal items, and debris remained neglected for over a year. Officials have been tasked with understanding the delay's root cause.

The tragedy, involving a Boeing 737-800 struck by birds and crashing due to infrastructure failures, spotlighted inadequacies in airport safety. A governmental audit revealed structural flaws and negligence contributing to the disaster, prompting public demands for accountability.

(With inputs from agencies.)