South Korea Archives

South Korea to inspect Boeing aircraft as it struggles to find cause of plane crash that killed 179

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officials plan to conduct safety inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country’s airlines, as they struggle to determine what caused a weekend plane crash that killed 179 people. Acting President Choi Sang-mok also instructed authorities on Monday to conduct an emergency review of the country’s aircraft operation systems. The plane operated by South Korean budget airline Jeju Air skidded off a runway at Muan International Airport, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into a fireball. All but two of the 181 people aboard were killed.… Continue Reading

A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officials say a passenger plane burst into flames after it skidded off a runway at an airport and slammed into a concrete fence. Its front landing gear had apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died, making it one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The accident Sunday morning involved a Jeju Air passenger plane flying from Bangkok to the town of Muan, about 180 miles south of Seoul. The Transport Ministry said the plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet. Footage showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, apparently with its landing gear still closed, overrunning the runway and colliding head-on with the, triggering an explosion.… Continue Reading

South Korea’s opposition parties move to impeach president over sudden declaration of martial law

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition parties moved to impeach the president over the shocking and short-lived declaration of martial law that drew heavily armed troops to encircle parliament. Lawmakers climbed walls early Wednesday to reenter the building and unanimously voted to lift his order. Impeaching Yoon Suk Yeol would require the support of two-thirds of parliament, and at least six justices of the nine-member Constitutional Court would have to endorse it to remove him. The motion to impeach was submitted jointly by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties. It could be put to a vote as early as Friday.… Continue Reading

South Korea lifts president’s martial law decree after lawmakers vote against it

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government has lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Yoon said early Wednesday that his government withdrew military personnel following a bipartisan parliamentary vote rejecting martial law, and the measure was formally lifted during a Cabinet meeting around 4:30 a.m. Yoon declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Less than three hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration.… Continue Reading