South Korean transport minister plans to resign over country's worst air crash

7/1/2025 19:01

South Korea's transport minister said on Tuesday he intends to step down to take responsibility for the deadly crash of a Boeing jet operated by Jeju Air on Dec. 29.



Jeju Air 7C2216, which departed the Thai capital of Bangkok for Muan in southwestern South Korea, belly-landed and overshot the regional airport's runway, exploding into flames after hitting an embankment.



Park Sang-woo told a press briefing, "I feel heavy responsibility for this disaster."



He said he will try to find the right timing to resign after addressing the current situation.



The transport ministry also said it will swiftly improve the safety of airport landing systems that experts said contributed to the catastrophic accident that killed 179 people on board.



Air safety experts have said the embankment, designed to prop up the "localizer" antenna used to guide landings in poor visibility, was too rigid and too close to the end of the runway.