Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo, is performed as part of a memorial service during the 12.29 Jeju Air flight disaster victims joint memorial ceremony held at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)
Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo, is performed as part of a memorial service during the 12.29 Jeju Air flight disaster victims joint memorial ceremony held at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)

A solemn joint memorial service for the victims of the Jeju Air disaster took place on Saturday, 20 days after the tragedy.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on the second floor of Muan International Airport, drawing some 1,500 attendees, including the bereaved family members, lawmakers, and local government officials.

The service began with a performance of the Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo -- a traditional ritual held to release the souls of the deceased. The ritual was followed by a moment of silence, floral tributes, and incense offerings in remembrance of the victims.

Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo, is performed as part of a memorial service during the 12.29 Jeju Air flight disaster victims joint memorial ceremony held at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)
Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo, is performed as part of a memorial service during the 12.29 Jeju Air flight disaster victims joint memorial ceremony held at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)

The flower-laying ceremony displayed the names of the 179 victims along with tribute messages left on the stairs between the first and second floors of the airport. The service continued with the screening of a memorial video and the heartfelt reading of letters from the bereaved families.

(From left) Woo Won-shik, the speaker of the National Assembly, Rep. Kwon Young-se, the People Power Party interim chair, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea chair and Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party are seen attending the event held to mourn the victims of Jeju Air disaster on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)
(From left) Woo Won-shik, the speaker of the National Assembly, Rep. Kwon Young-se, the People Power Party interim chair, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea chair and Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party are seen attending the event held to mourn the victims of Jeju Air disaster on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)

The memorial service came to a close with a performance of the tribute song "My Soul Becomes the Wind" (direct translation). Following the ceremony, the bereaved famiily members are set to visit the accident site.

Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo, is performed as part of a memorial service during the 12.29 Jeju Air flight disaster victims joint memorial ceremony held at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)
Jindo Ssitgimgut, or Purification Ritual of Jindo, is performed as part of a memorial service during the 12.29 Jeju Air flight disaster victims joint memorial ceremony held at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Saturday. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)