Broadcaster Ahn Hyun-mo Faces Backlash Over Inappropriate Comments on Jeju Air Tragedy

Broadcaster Ahn Hyun-mo has come under fire for making inappropriate remarks related to the recent Jeju Air tragedy, leading her to close the comments section on her social media posts. On December 30, she shared a post reflecting on her recent flights, stating, "Whether on Friday, Saturday, or today, I have been flying for several days, and everything about flying and landing has been a matter of luck. I am grateful for everything, but the more I think about it, both my inhalation and exhalation can be filled with sorrow." Along with her message, she posted a photo taken at the airport while waiting to board a flight.

This post was intended as a tribute to the victims of the Jeju Air incident that occurred on December 29 at 9 AM at Muan International Airport. During this tragic event, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 attempted to land but crashed, colliding with the runway's outer wall. Out of the 181 passengers on board, 179 lost their lives, prompting the government to declare a national mourning period from January 4 to January 24.

Despite her intention to express sympathy for the victims, Ahn's comments were met with criticism from netizens. Many felt that her reflections seemed more focused on her own sense of relief at having escaped the tragedy rather than genuinely mourning the victims. Some commenters suggested that it would have been better if she had said nothing at all, while others argued that her remarks were being overly interpreted. However, a general consensus emerged that her post was unnecessary, regardless of her intentions.

As the backlash intensified, Ahn ultimately deleted the controversial post. Nevertheless, negative comments continued on her latest posts, prompting her to disable the comments section on those as well.