Crisis after crisis: Jeju Air plane crash tests acting South Korean president’s administration

SEOUL – The administration of Acting President Choi Sang-mok has been put to the test as it grapples with a deadly plane crash at an airport in the south-western county of Muan, South Jeolla Province, amid the political turmoil and leadership vacuum stemming from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.

The

crash of a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 passengers at Muan International Airport

came just two days after Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok was appointed interim leader.

Mr Choi became acting president after the opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach Prime Minister and then Acting President Han Duck-soo on Dec 27.

Mr Choi on Dec 29 designated the south-western county of Muan as a special disaster zone eligible for state support following the plane crash. All but the two people rescued from the plane early on are presumed to be dead, firefighting authorities said at around 2.30pm (1.30pm Singapore time).

Earlier in the day, Mr Choi urged related government agencies to devote their full efforts to the rescue operations, saying that “all available equipment and personnel must be mobilised”, addressing the acting minister of the interior and safety; the minister of land, infrastructure and transport; the commissioner of the National Fire Agency; and the acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency.

The Acting President stressed the need to save as many lives as possible and pledged to “spare no effort” in supporting the bereaved families.

He called for special attention to safety measures for firefighters and rescue personnel in the operation to prevent further accidents.

Mr Choi was already under pressure from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to nominate the three candidates recommended by the Assembly to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court.

Mr Han Min-soo, spokesman for the Democratic Party, said on Dec 28 that the members of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court have asserted that Mr Choi has the power to nominate the justices. If Mr Choi refuses to nominate the three candidates, then it would be an extension of the martial law imposed by Mr Yoon, he added.

“We remind Acting President Choi that refusing to nominate the Constitutional Court justices would be an act that extends the martial law imposition (by President Yoon) on the night of Dec 3, which (Mr Choi) had attempted to prevent, and an attempt to delay the deliberations of the Constitutional Court,” the main opposition spokesman said.

Prime Minister Han’s impeachment

came after the Democratic Party, which holds a 170-seat majority in the 300-member Parliament, denounced his statement on Dec 26 that he would hold off on appointing the Assembly’s three nominees to fill the vacancies on the Constitutional Court.

Political scientist Shin Yul of Myongji University said that how the government copes with Sunday’s disaster could determine the trajectory of the current administration under Mr Choi.

“The administration under the Acting President has been put to the test – its disaster response has been relatively slow compared with the pace of response under a normal government system,” Professor Shin said via phone.

“If the government deals with the disaster properly, then it could work in Choi’s favor, as it could shield him from impeachment,” he added. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK