South Korea Forms New Committee to Rebuild Aviation Safety After Two Airline Incidents

Picture credits: X (RandyNarinee)

Seoul: The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) has announced a complete overhaul of the country’s aviation safety system following two major aviation incidents involving Jeju Air and Air Busan. 

In response, MOLIT has established an Aviation Safety Innovation Committee, which will include 20 private-sector experts focused on strengthening safety regulations, maintenance oversight, and airport operations.

The decision comes after two high-profile accidents raised serious concerns about aviation safety. On December 29, 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 suffered a bird strike while attempting a go-around at Muan International Airport. The aircraft was forced to make an emergency belly landing but crashed into a concrete embankment, resulting in the deaths of 179 of the 181 passengers and crew. 

Less than a month later, an Air Busan Airbus A321ceo bound for Hong Kong caught fire at Gimhae International Airport just before takeoff. All 176 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely, but the aircraft was destroyed by the flames.

MOLIT held the committee’s first planning session in Seoul on February 4, where members elected a chairperson and outlined their objectives. The committee will remain active for ten weeks, working until April, and will be divided into two divisions. One will focus on aviation operations safety, including piloting, maintenance, and cabin safety, while the other will address airport facilities, air traffic systems, and infrastructure improvements.

Among the key measures under consideration, the committee plans to strengthen safety reviews for airline operating licenses, improve maintenance standards for low-cost carriers, revise airport construction and operational regulations, and enhance aviation safety investment disclosure systems. It will also work on improving safety inspections and certification processes to ensure a more robust regulatory framework.

MOLIT stated that the committee will conduct on-site inspections and analyze both domestic and international safety cases before drafting recommendations by the end of March. In April, a public hearing will be held to gather feedback before finalizing and implementing new safety measures across the aviation sector.

Second Vice Minister of MOLIT, Baek Won-guk, emphasized the government’s commitment to rebuilding the aviation safety system from the ground up. “Improving the aviation safety system is a task that the government must address as a top priority. In order to restore trust in our country’s aviation safety system, the government will make a determined effort to rebuild it from scratch.”

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