South Korea is set to completely rebuild its aviation safety system after recent aviation accidents in the country, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced.
On February 4, 2025, MOLIT revealed plans to create an ‘Aviation Safety Innovation Committee’, which will include around 20 private experts aimed at improving safety in the aviation industry.
“In light of the various aircraft accidents occurring [in South Korea], improving the aviation safety-related system is a task that the government must address as a top priority,” said Baek Won-guk, Second Vice Minister of MOLIT. ” In order to restore trust in our country’s aviation safety system, the government will make a determined effort to rebuild the aviation safety system from scratch.”
The formation of the committee follows a series of recent aviation accidents. In December 2024, Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, coming from Bangkok, Thailand, suffered a runway excursion during an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport (MWX) and exploded after colliding with an embankment. The tragic crash claimed 179 of the 181 lives onboard.
Less than a month later Air Busan flight BX391, bound for Hong Kong, caught fire at Gimhae Airport (PUS) shortly before takeoff. All 176 people on board were safely evacuated using an escape slide, with three of them suffering minor injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair after most of its top fuselage was destroyed by flames.
The committee’s first planning meeting was held in Seoul on February 4, 2025, where members chose a chairperson and outline the committee’s goals and direction.
The committee plans to focus on improving maintenance for low-cost carriers (LCC), managing high aircraft usage, and resolving inconsistencies between airport construction and operation regulations.
Additionally, the committee plans to make safety reviews stricter when airlines get operating permissions, enhance airport operation and inspection systems, and ensure the aviation safety investment disclosure system works well.
The committee will operate for about 10 weeks until April 2025. It will have two divisions: the ‘Aviation Operations Safety Division’ with experts in piloting, maintenance, and cabin fields, and the ‘Airport Facilities Improvement Division’ with specialists in air traffic, wildlife, and airport construction.
The committee plans to prepare improvement proposals for overall aviation safety by the end of March 2025.
