The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "self-investigation"...growing fairness concerns

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is a federal agency...Personnel and Budget Independence

Jeju Air Disaster Raises Fairness Controversy Over Negligence of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and TransportThe bereaved family said, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is conducting a 'self-investigation'."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will investigate the cause, fair and objective."

[Anchor]
As circumstances close to "human resources" such as defects in runway structures have been revealed one after another in the Jeju Air plane disaster, some point out whether it is fair for an organization under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is in charge of management and supervision, to be in charge of the investigation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is in a position to investigate objectively in accordance with international regulations, but doubts are being raised.

Reporter Hwang Hye-kyung reports.

[Reporter]
The Air Rail Accident Investigation Committee, which investigates the cause of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, is an agency under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Personnel and budget are directed and supervised by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport,
Chairman
is a former member of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the current head of the aviation policy office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is in charge of the standing committee.

The investigation team that conducts a practical accident investigation also includes incumbent officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

It is a big difference from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which has independent personnel and budget rights and reports directly to Congress.

In other accidents, such a structure is not a big problem, but the Jeju Air disaster is also controversial because the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's negligence has been raised.

This is because the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is the final supervisor of Localizer, the main cause of the accident.

[Journalist] I understand that there is a content that says, "Review the construction of (localizer) with brittle materials."]

[Joo Jong-wan / Director of Aviation Policy, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (last 2) : I told you yesterday that I will tell you as soon as I understand the situation....]

The bereaved family protested, saying the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was conducting a "self-investigation," and

[Legal Support Group for the bereaved family of the Jeju Air disaster (last 4th): The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is conducting a self-investigation amid growing suspicions that it is responsible for the aviation disaster. Therefore, install a separate investigative body that guarantees neutrality and independence, or....]

The pilot's union also said
Under the
related laws, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is related to the cause of the accident, should be excluded.

[External Cooperation Director of the pilot union: For more objective and fair results, external personnel from various fields, such as current domestic captains and technicians, who are qualified to investigate accidents, as well as overseas experts, are required to participate if necessary.]

However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport dismissed the request, saying that a fair and objective investigation would be conducted in line with international standards.

[Park Sang-woo / Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (last 4th): I would like to inform you that everything is being carried out in accordance with international standards because there are Thai and foreign passengers among the deceased passengers. It is the government's goal to ensure that the investigation is carried out properly and that the government and the bereaved families do not have different interests....]

Objectivity must be ensured because the final report of the investigation committee plays a decisive role in future investigations and legal disputes.

With the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport still not giving a clear explanation on how the concrete mound was installed, attention is being paid to whether the investigation committee under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will be able to clarify the true nature of the disaster.

I'm YTN Hwang Hye-kyung.



Video editing: Lee Eun-kyung
Design: Lee Na-eun