Rep. Kweon Seong-dong (center right), the People Power Party’s acting chair and floor leader, holds the hands of a bereaved family member of the airplane crash victims at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Pool photo via Yonhap)
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong (center right), the People Power Party’s acting chair and floor leader, holds the hands of a bereaved family member of the airplane crash victims at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Pool photo via Yonhap)

Leaders from both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea visited Muan International Airport on Monday, following a tragic airplane crash that claimed 179 lives, to express their condolences and address the aftermath of the incident.

On Monday morning, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party’s acting chair and floor leader, alongside other party members, visited the site to assess the situation and pay respects at the memorial altar. The ruling party formed a task force Sunday dedicated to coordinating with the government for effective recovery efforts.

The task force, led by Rep. Kwon Young-jin, the party’s member on the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, includes members from other standing committees on public safety and welfare. Rep. Kwon Young-se, the recently appointed head of the party's emergency steering committee, also participated in the visit.

During the visit, People Power Party members received briefings from Land Minister Park Sang-woo. Party spokesperson Kim Dai-sik emphasized the urgency of the response, stating, “I have asked everyone to pool their efforts to expedite the identification of the victims and handle the necessary procedures as swiftly as possible,” and assured that “we will stand beside the bereaved families to address both funeral arrangements and compensation issues."

Rep. Lee Jae-myung (left), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, comforts a grieving family member of the airplane crash victims at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Newsis)
Rep. Lee Jae-myung (left), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, comforts a grieving family member of the airplane crash victims at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. (Newsis)

Senior leaders from the Democratic Party also made their presence felt, holding meetings with the party’s local branch in South Jeolla Province. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, has been at the site since Sunday, engaging with the families of the victims.

During the on-site senior committee meeting on Monday, Lee emphasized prioritizing accident management over determining causes and developing preventive measures. He further pledged the party's full support for cooperation with the government, South Jeolla Province and Gwangju City, to resolve the situation.

Similarly, the minor Rebuilding Korea Party held senior meetings at its branch in the same province.

This widespread mourning by political leaders led to the postponement of parliamentary proceedings. Standing committee sessions scheduled for Monday, including those on House Steering, Justice and Legislation, Agriculture, Forestry, Oceans and Fisheries, Environment, and Labor, were deferred.