
The concrete mound housing the localizer is seen on the website of the Jeju Air crash at Muan Worldwide Airport in South Jeolla Province, Jan. 18. Korea Occasions picture by Wang Tae-seok
Why the concrete mound housing the localizer at Muan Worldwide Airport was positioned in such a hazardous location — and why it remained there for years — stays unanswered greater than a month after the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash.
The „gravely mistaken“ mound, linked to the excessive demise toll within the lethal collision, has turn out to be a focus of scrutiny, with neither the federal government, the Korea Airports Company, nor the development corporations concerned offering clear explanations or disclosing findings about its placement and security compliance.
An government from a contractor concerned in upgrading the localizer — a navigation assist facility linked to the excessive demise toll within the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash — acknowledged the tragedy, calling it “heartbreaking and regrettable.” Nevertheless, the manager supplied no clarification for the power’s flawed construction, stating solely, “Our staff adopted the laws.”
Whereas the investigation into the reason for the accident is ongoing, one indisputable fact stays: the improper construction of the concrete mount supporting the localizer contributed to the collision and subsequent tragedy.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Park Sang-woo acknowledged throughout a parliamentary inquiry on Jan. 14, saying, “Putting a hazardous facility in an emergency preparedness space was a grave mistake.”
Authorities have solely revealed the circumstances in the course of the localizer’s preliminary building. The Kumho Building Consortium, chargeable for constructing Muan Airport, created a concrete mound to align the localizer with the runway.

Joint investigation group members work to get well an engine buried within the concrete mound housing the localizer on the Jeju Air crash website at Muan Worldwide Airport, Jan. 2. Yonhap
Had been security checks ignored?
The duty order for the improve venture included directions to judge the security of the localizer’s location and supplies.
Nevertheless, it stays unclear whether or not these assessments have been carried out. Since Muan Worldwide Airport’s opening 17 years in the past, worldwide security laws have modified, airplanes have grown bigger, and applied sciences to stop runway overruns have improved.
Did authorities and building companies take into account these adjustments in the course of the upgrades? In the event that they did, why was the flawed construction maintained?
Minister Park has mentioned that he would examine these questions. Whereas promising to share knowledge with out hindering the investigation by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), the ministry has but to reveal new findings.
Authorities‘ hesitance to launch data is considerably comprehensible. Untimely disclosures may result in public hypothesis, probably disrupting an unbiased investigation.
Corporations concerned within the localizer upgrades are additionally in a tough place, as they face allegations of regulatory violations. The Korea Airports Company has declined to share fundamental paperwork, just like the implementation design report, citing their submission to the ARAIB.
Nevertheless, the general public’s proper to know is as necessary because the investigation itself. Residents can’t be anticipated to attend passively for closing conclusions. Whereas the ARAIB focuses on figuring out technical causes, it additionally points security suggestions to associated organizations.
However this alone is inadequate. The general public should perceive why the mound was left untouched and choose whether or not its presence was justified.

Joint investigation group members examine the realm across the concrete mound housing the localizer at Muan Worldwide Airport in South Jeolla Province, Jan. 8.
If not one of the concerned events — whether or not the Ministry of Land, the Korea Airports Company, native aviation authorities, or trade representatives — recognized the problem for over a decade, why was that?
The purpose is to not scapegoat people however to uncover institutional blind spots and systemic flaws. Authorities should honor their dedication to reveal data in session with the ARAIB. Transparency is crucial to stop future tragedies and regain public belief.
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Occasions.