Jeonnam Province Governor Kim Young-rok announced follow-up measures for the Jeju Air passenger plane accident, including special laws. Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok emphasized on the 6th, “As follow-up measures for the Jeju Air plane accident, we will strengthen psychological counseling and care for the bereaved families to return to their daily lives, provide prompt support for emergency living expenses, promote a special law to support victims, and create a memorial space.”
Governor Kim Young-rok announced follow-up measures for the Jeju Air passenger plane accident in the provincial office briefing room this afternoon, saying, “The handover of all 179 victims has been completed, but this is the beginning of another settlement. “There are many tasks that need to be solved, including continuous support for victims and thorough investigation of the truth,” he said.
He continued, “We will strongly recommend to the government an objective and rational investigation that will be acceptable to the bereaved family and the public, as well as clear measures to prevent recurrence.” He added, “The province will continue to operate the on-site situation room at Muan Airport, and as soon as the joint support group hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is launched on the 20th, He added, “We will dispatch provincial government officials to ensure that there is no neglect in supporting the bereaved families.”
As a follow-up measure, we decided to first recommend to the government stronger psychological counseling and care service support than before so that bereaved families can return to their daily lives as soon as possible. We plan to match high-risk bereaved families with private experts to provide one-on-one psychological counseling for up to five years, and request that Jeonnam Province Mental Health Healing Center provide professional psychological counseling and healing programs for five years. It was decided to expand the current one-month emergency care service to a maximum of six months, and request 100,000 won per person per month and transportation expenses for one year when the bereaved family uses a hospital or treatment center.
Emergency living expenses are also quickly provided to bereaved families who are having difficulty making a living right now. Previously, it was not possible to use donations while fundraising was in progress, but Jeonnam Province’s active suggestions were reflected, and payment could be made around 10 days. We plan to support the prompt payment of insurance benefits from the Citizens’ Safety Mutual Aid Insurance and recommend that as much national comfort support money be paid as possible through the enactment of a special law.
We are also pushing for the enactment of the ‘Jeju Air Passenger Plane Accident Damage Support Special Act’. The special law includes ▲basis for compensation for damages, such as compensation, consolation support, and loss compensation ▲provisions for support for psychological counseling and mental illness testing and treatment ▲special support measures to contribute to stabilizing the lives of bereaved families and revitalizing the local economy by strengthening emergency welfare and child care support ▲It is planned to include grounds for support for the establishment of a trauma center for psychological counseling and treatment, and the promotion of memorial projects and memorial parks.
A memorial space is also being promoted. The plan is to spend about 46 billion won to create a memorial tower, a memorial hall, a visitor center, and a forest and garden to comfort the bereaved families in an area of about 70,000 square meters near Muan International Airport, creating a space to remember pain and move toward healing.
In addition, in order to establish Muan International Airport as a gateway airport to Northeast Asia, we proposed to the government the introduction of a state-of-the-art bird monitoring and extermination system, the construction of a runway at the level of an international airport capable of taking off and landing large aircraft, and the early start of operations to ensure normal operation as soon as possible. I am determined to do my best.
In addition, a government-wide consultative body was formed under the leadership of the state to explore administrative and financial measures, such as subsidies for airline losses. Considering that this is a special disaster area, the government proposed an indefinite suspension of the statutory route suspension period for airlines, while quickly restoring navigation safety facilities to the airport. We plan to minimize the closure period.
Governor Kim Young-rok said, “With this accident as an opportunity, we will actively work with the joint support group hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Democratic Party TF to ensure that Muan International Airport is upgraded to the next level.” He added, “I pray for the soul of the victims who lost their lives in this tragic accident. “We will carefully consider the feelings of the bereaved family and make every effort to resolve the accident and provide support to the bereaved family together with the relevant ministries until the end,” he said.
Meanwhile, South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Young-rok held a meeting to review the response to heavy snowfall at the Provincial Office Disaster Situation Room on the afternoon of the 6th and emphasized, “Think that the amount of snow may be higher than expected, so prepare thoroughly to prevent another disaster.”
In addition, rapid response for the safety of residents was also ordered, including thorough snow removal work on the way to work and prevention of damage to vulnerable groups from cold waves.
According to Jeonnam Province, very heavy snow is forecast to fall in the Jeonnam region from the 7th to the 9th. The expected snowfall amount is 5 to 15 cm, and depending on the location, northern Jeollanam-do is expected to see more than 20 cm of snow.
Accordingly, South Jeolla Province urgently inspected 1,458 locations at risk of heavy snow damage, such as collapses and falls, and promptly took action in 99 cases. In particular, in collaboration with road snow removal agencies near Muan Airport, snow removal vehicles were deployed exclusively, and small spreaders and cold weather supplies were provided.
In addition, through public-private collaboration, we plan to do our best to prevent casualties by helping residents living in vulnerable facilities to evacuate in advance and using disaster helpers to closely manage those vulnerable to cold waves.
Jeonnam Province is also actively promoting tips for responding to farmers, such as managing crops and agricultural and livestock facilities, and refraining from outdoor activities for vulnerable farmers such as elderly farmers, through town/village community centers, farmer groups, and SMS.
Facilities that are at risk of damage from heavy snow, such as greenhouses, should install reinforcing supports at intervals of 2 to 6 meters, and pull the house strings tightly to prevent them from blowing away in the wind. On snowy days, the house must be swept away from time to time, and in houses with heating facilities, the curtains and double-layer plastic must be opened and the heater must be turned on to allow the accumulated snow to melt.
In addition, agricultural crops, ginseng, and winter crops grown around greenhouses must have drainage ditches maintained in advance to prevent moisture from melting snow.
Orchard farms must apply white paint to the main parts of trees and cover them with insulation materials, and the facility house must be installed with internal sea-type standard specifications. Damage to ginseng cultivation facility shade nets and orchard fences can be prevented by rolling up the top of the net.
At the inspection meeting, Governor Kim Young-rok asked, “Minimize inconvenience to residents by intensively spraying snow removal agents on areas vulnerable to icing on the way to work in the city, alleys, back roads, sidewalks, etc., and inspect in advance to prevent damage to agricultural and livestock facilities and fish farms.”
Jeollanam-do Province announced that Jo Seong-ae, CEO of Damyang Changpyeong Traditional Rice Taffy Farming Association, was newly designated as the 2024 Korean Food Master (rice syrup) in recognition of the tradition and excellence of rice syrup manufacturing technology by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
As a result, the number of designated masters in the Jeonnam region increased to 17, maintaining the highest number in the country. CEO Cho Seong-ae was selected as a Korean food master four years after Suncheon Kim Soon-ok was designated as a master in 2019.
A total of 25 candidates from each city and province were recommended as Korea Food Masters. After reviewing the suitability of six items including tradition, need for succession and development, and industrial feasibility through documents and on-site screening, the final two were selected through evaluation and deliberation by the Food Industry Promotion Deliberation Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Master Seongae Jo was highly praised for realizing a taste and quality close to the original version of jocheong using a traditional method using a furnace and cauldron by reproducing the direct fire and concentration method recorded in the ancient document ‘Gyuhapchongseo’.
In the process of making grain syrup by boiling down the saccharified product of malt, a mechanical manufacturing method was once attempted due to difficulties in maintaining a constant temperature. We are working hard to save it.
Master Cho Seong-ae’s rice syrup is manufactured using only organic rice and hulled barley produced in Changpyeong-myeon, Damyang, and has been passed down as a family business for three generations, from the grandmother-in-law to the mother-in-law and herself.
Master Cho Seong-ae, who has devoted himself to manufacturing rice syrup for more than 20 years, runs the ‘Changpyeong Traditional Rice Taffy Farming Association Corporation’ with his spouse, and sells various traditional foods such as rice cakes and taffy in parallel to overcome the market limitations of a single rice syrup product. Efforts are being made to industrialize food.
Park Sang-mi, head of the Jeonnam Province Agricultural and Food Distribution Department, said, “We will continue to discover and foster people with excellent traditional food skills and actively support the Local Food Promotion Center, which is scheduled to open in 2026, to discover and preserve Southern food and strengthen the competitiveness of the traditional food industry.” We support marketing by operating a separate Myeongin exhibition hall at various exhibition fairs such as the 2025 Namdo International Gourmet Industry Expo and Namdo Direct Market, and provide the general public with a Myeongin food experience experience. “We will also support ongoing promotional activities, including providing opportunities,” he said.
The ‘Korea Food Master’ system was introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 1994 to inherit and develop traditional foods. To date, 99 people have been designated nationwide. In Jeonnam, 15 people are currently actively working, including Gwangyang Hongssang-ri plum master and Suncheon Shin Gwang-su wild crop tea master, and 2 are in training as successors.
Economy Queen Reporter Hana Choi Photo: Jeonnam Province
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