Families of Victims File Criminal Charges Against Jeju Air Officials
On May 13, 2025, families of the victims from the Jeju Air disaster, along with the Gwangju Bar Association's legal support team, submitted a criminal complaint to the Jeonnam Police Agency, seeking accountability for those responsible for the incident. Among the 15 individuals named in the complaint are Park Sang-woo, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Kim Yi-bae, the CEO of Jeju Air.
The families, comprising 72 members, held a press conference where they called for the prosecution of officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Jeju Air, the Seoul and Busan Regional Aviation Offices, Korea Airports Corporation, and Muan International Airport for violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and charges of negligent homicide.
Attorney Jeong Da-eun, representing the legal support team, stated, "The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has violated safety obligations as a management official under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, while the CEO of Jeju Air failed to fulfill their responsibilities regarding aircraft operations and emergency responses."
The complaint also includes air traffic controllers and management personnel from Muan International Airport, as well as the heads of Jeju Air's maintenance and safety departments, who are accused of negligence leading to the disaster.
The families emphasized that the Jeju Air incident was not merely an accident but a significant public disaster resulting from negligent management of preventable risks. They expressed their urgent demand for a swift police investigation and criminal charges against those responsible.
Kim Da-hye, a family member, voiced her frustration, stating, "It has been four months since the tragedy, and there has been no progress. We are determined to pursue the truth and will not give up."
Previously, the legal support team had warned that despite the passage of four months since the disaster, no resolutions had been made, and the investigation into the truth remained stagnant.
The Jeonnam Police Agency, which is investigating the cause of the passenger plane crash, has conducted searches at Muan International Airport, the Busan Regional Aviation Office, and Jeju Air's Seoul office, collecting over 1,000 pieces of evidence, including air traffic control audio files, runway CCTV footage, and localizer schematics.
Additionally, around 50 individuals, including Kim Yi-bae and other executives, as well as officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Airports Corporation, have been interviewed as witnesses. No suspects have been formally charged yet.
A police spokesperson stated, "We are awaiting the results of the investigation by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Committee to ensure a clear and objective inquiry. We will proceed with legal actions based on the findings of the investigation."
The tragic incident occurred on December 29, 2024, when a Jeju Air passenger plane attempted to land without deploying its landing gear, crashing into the localizer and resulting in an explosion that claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew members.
