Broadcaster Ahn Hyun-mo Apologizes for Controversial Tribute Post Following Jeju Air Tragedy

Broadcaster Ahn Hyun-mo (안현모), aged 42, faced backlash after posting a tribute on social media regarding the Jeju Air tragedy, stating that 'everything is fate.' On January 1, she expressed her sorrow, acknowledging her shortcomings in conveying her condolences. She stated, 'I cannot suppress my grief over the Jeju Air incident. I sincerely extend my condolences to the bereaved families who have suffered greatly from this tragedy. I pray for the souls of the deceased.'

On December 30, Ahn shared a photo taken at the airport, reflecting on her experiences of flying multiple days in a row, saying, 'Whether on Friday, Saturday, or today, everything about flying is fate. Everything is something to be grateful for. The more I think about it, both my inhalation and exhalation can be filled with sorrow.' This was intended as a tribute to the victims of the Jeju Air incident.

However, some netizens criticized her for referring to the act of flying as 'fate' in light of the tragedy. Following the criticism, Ahn closed the comments section on her post and eventually deleted it.

The Jeju Air incident occurred on December 29 at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do, where a passenger aircraft collided with the airport's outer wall during an emergency landing, resulting in an explosion. The aircraft was carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and 6 crew members, with all but 2 crew members tragically losing their lives.

Ahn Hyun-mo, a former SBS reporter, has been working as a freelance broadcaster and interpreter since leaving the network in 2016.