Professor Choi Ki-young Appointed New Chairman of Aviation Safety Board

Choi Ki-young, a professor at Inha University's Graduate School of Aerospace and Defense Industry, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB). The appointment, announced on June 20, aims to bolster the board's capacity to investigate aviation and railway incidents.

The ARAIB, an affiliate of the Prime Minister's Office, highlighted Professor Choi's extensive experience and expertise in the aerospace field. His career includes a tenure as a senior researcher at Advanced Rotorcraft Technology, Inc. (ART) in the United States and his role as the founding dean of Inha University's Graduate School of Aerospace and Defense Industry, established in March. He has also served as the policy committee chairman for the Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences since 2021.

Professor Choi expressed his commitment to swiftly advancing the investigation into the "12.29 Passenger Jet Incident," a significant air disaster that occurred approximately 18 months prior. He emphasized his dedication to strengthening the independence and fairness of accident investigations and enhancing the overall reliability of the aviation and railway accident investigation system.

Choi's term as chairman will run for three years, concluding on July 16, 2029. The ARAIB is structured to include a non-standing chairman, two standing members, and up to eight non-standing members.

In addition to the chairman's appointment, the board also welcomed three new non-standing members: Kim In-kyu, director of the Aviation Training Center at Korea Aviation University; Jeong Yun-sik, professor emeritus at Catholic Kwandong University; and Uhm Ki-young, a senior researcher at the Korea Railroad Research Institute. These appointments are expected to further strengthen the board's investigative capabilities across both aviation and railway sectors.

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We will do our best to promptly pursue the investigation into the 12.29 passenger jet incident, which occurred about a year and a half ago, and to strengthen the independence and fairness of accident investigations and enhance the reliability of the aviation and railway accident investigation system.