The concrete mound housing the localizer is seen at the site of the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Jan. 18. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

Why the concrete mound housing the localizer at Muan International Airport was placed in such a hazardous location — and why it remained there for years — remains unanswered more than a month after the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash.

The "gravely mistaken" mound, linked to the high death toll in the deadly collision, has become a focal point of scrutiny, with neither the government, the Korea Airports Corporation, nor the construction companies involved providing clear explanations or disclosing findings about its placement and safety compliance.

An executive from a contractor involved in upgrading the localizer — a navigation aid facility linked to the high death toll in the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash — acknowledged the tragedy, calling it "heartbreaking and regrettable." However, the executive offered no explanation for the facility's flawed structure, stating only, "Our employees followed the regulations."

While the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, one undeniable fact remains: the improper structure of the concrete mount supporting the localizer contributed to the collision and subsequent tragedy.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Park Sang-woo acknowledged during a parliamentary inquiry on Jan. 14, saying, "Placing a hazardous facility in an emergency preparedness area was a grave mistake."

Authorities have only revealed the circumstances during the localizer's initial construction. The Kumho Construction Consortium, responsible for building Muan Airport, created a concrete mound to align the localizer with the runway.

Joint investigation team members work to recover an engine buried in the concrete mound housing the localizer at the Jeju Air crash site at Muan International Airport, Jan. 2. Yonhap

Were safety checks overlooked?

The task order for the upgrade project included instructions to evaluate the safety of the localizer's location and materials.

However, it remains unclear whether these assessments were carried out. Since Muan International Airport's opening 17 years ago, international safety regulations have changed, airplanes have grown larger, and technologies to prevent runway overruns have improved.

Did authorities and construction firms consider these changes during the upgrades? If they did, why was the flawed structure maintained?

Minister Park has said that he would investigate these questions. While promising to share data without hindering the investigation by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), the ministry has yet to disclose new findings.

Authorities' hesitance to release information is somewhat understandable. Premature disclosures could lead to public speculation, potentially disrupting an independent investigation.

Companies involved in the localizer upgrades are also in a difficult position, as they face allegations of regulatory violations. The Korea Airports Corporation has declined to share basic documents, like the implementation design report, citing their submission to the ARAIB.

However, the public's right to know is as important as the investigation itself. Citizens cannot be expected to wait passively for final conclusions. While the ARAIB focuses on identifying technical causes, it also issues safety recommendations to related organizations.

But this alone is insufficient. The public must understand why the mound was left untouched and judge whether its presence was justified.

Joint investigation team members inspect the area around the concrete mound housing the localizer at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Jan. 8.

If none of the involved parties — whether the Ministry of Land, the Korea Airports Corporation, local aviation authorities, or industry representatives — identified the issue for over a decade, why was that?

The aim is not to scapegoat individuals but to uncover institutional blind spots and systemic flaws. Authorities must honor their commitment to disclose information in consultation with the ARAIB. Transparency is essential to prevent future tragedies and regain public trust.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.