South Korea's Accountability Crisis: Delays in Jeju Air Crash Aftermath

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung demands accountability for delays in the recovery of remains and belongings from the 2024 Jeju Air crash which killed 179 people. A audit revealed transport ministry's long-standing failures linked to the tragedy, escalating calls for responsibility and change.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded stern disciplinary measures against officials following delays in retrieving victims' remains from the devastating 2024 Jeju Air crash, which claimed 179 lives, as announced by his office on Thursday.

In a briefing, a presidential aide revealed that additional investigations have uncovered nine body parts linked to seven victims more than a year after the accident. President Lee previously expressed condolences and has tasked authorities to probe why these remains along with 648 personal items and 155 aircraft debris pieces were neglected for such an extended period.

The transport ministry formally apologized on Monday, but grieving families denounced what they described as a delayed and insufficient apology, equating it to a 'second death' for the victims. Pressure mounts for systemic reform, especially in light of an audit criticizing two decades of airport safety oversight failures, which reportedly aggravated the crash's fatal consequences.

(With inputs from agencies.)