The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Jan. 10 that it humbly accepts the Board of Audit and Inspection’s findings in its report, "Management Status of Vulnerable Areas in Aviation Safety," and will take stern measures.
The Board found that the concrete berm installed at Muan Airport in connection with the Dec. 29 Jeju Air passenger-plane crash was erected to cut construction costs.
A localizer (LZZ, azimuth facility) is a navigation aid that emits radio signals to indicate the runway centerline to approaching aircraft. To prevent signal interference, the localizer must be mounted higher than the runway’s upper edge. If the runway or the runway end safety area is sloped, the localizer must be installed higher still, requiring a stronger foundation to withstand wind and other forces.
At Muan Airport, the ministry installed the concrete berm in June 2003 without conducting a vulnerability assessment. In 2007, the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) requested remedial action, but no corrective measures were implemented.
The Board’s nationwide inspection of airport localizers found that 14 localizer structures at eight airports, including Muan, were improperly installed without adequate review.
The ministry said it has completed repairs at seven facilities across five airports and is rapidly addressing the remaining sites. It added that it is implementing follow-up measures — including upgrades to azimuth facilities and enhanced bird-strike prevention efforts — to prevent another accident like the Dec. 29 crash.
Responding to the Board’s criticism of pilot and air-traffic-controller staffing, the ministry said it immediately suspended personnel and filed complaints in cases where pilots or controllers violated laws on aviation English proficiency and medical fitness certification. It said it will promptly pursue additional investigations and institutional reforms.
A ministry official said the ministry plans to fully implement the aviation-safety reform measures drafted last April and to overhaul the aviation safety system.
