Officials Sent to Prosecutors Over False Data in Jeju Air Crash Investigation

South Korean prosecutors are investigating seven Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport officials for allegedly distributing false information regarding the 2022 Jeju Air crash. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of 179 people, involved an aircraft attempting an emergency landing at Muan Airport.

The special investigation team announced that the officials are accused of fabricating official documents. According to the investigation, these officials were aware that the localizer system installed at Muan Airport did not comply with regulations. Despite this knowledge, they allegedly issued a press release asserting that the system was installed in accordance with the rules.

The localizer at Muan Airport was identified as a primary factor in the crash. Reports suggested that the system was not constructed with easily breakable materials as required by regulations, leading to its collision with the aircraft during the emergency landing. This deviation from standard safety protocols is believed to have contributed significantly to the explosion.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport issued press releases on December 30 and 31, 2022, claiming the localizer was installed correctly. However, police investigations revealed that a meeting within the ministry's accident response headquarters had acknowledged the possibility of regulatory violations. The press release was allegedly drafted to exclude unfavorable regulations and include only those that supported the ministry's position.

Further investigation is needed to determine if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport systematically concealed the localizer's issues while developing a defense strategy to evade responsibility for the disaster. This marks the first time officials have been formally charged in connection with the crash.