The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it would do its utmost to support the bereaved families of the Jeju Air passenger plane crash at Muan Airport, including medical care, funeral, and psychological treatment.
The ministry dispatched its vice minister and the head of the Population and Social Services Policy Office to the scene to respond to the passenger plane crash that occurred on Sunday and is immediately responding to support for the bereaved families, including medical care and funerals, and consulting with related organizations at the on-site situation room.
At 9:12 a.m. on Sunday, the ministry activated the disaster medical system by issuing Code-Orange. It dispatched 14 rapid response teams from nearby health centers and three Gwangju-South Jeolla Province Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs).
The ministry also had the Central Emergency Medical Center and the Jeonnam-Gwangju Emergency Medical Support Center dispatch their personnel to the accident site to provide on-site emergency medical support.
Medical support for the bereaved families who arrived at the accident site is also being provided in cooperation with local governments. Medical personnel from local health centers are waiting in the airport's waiting room in case of an emergency.
Funeral support for the bereaved families is also provided. Initially, 30 funeral directors and 11 vehicles were dispatched to South Jeolla Province, and 200 coffin bags were provided, with plans to secure and support more if necessary.
If burial space is scarce, the ministry plans to support the dispersal of bodies at 30 funeral homes designated for national disaster preparedness, including four in Gwangju and 26 in South Jeolla Province. To ensure smooth funerals, it also identifies on-site funeral needs by connecting funeral homes and local governments.
Psychological support for bereaved families and the injured will also be provided. Under the Disaster Relief Act, the ministry held a Central Disaster Psychological Recovery Support Group meeting chaired by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and decided to form the “Jeju Air Airliner Accident Integrated Psychological Support Group” centered on the National Trauma Center.
The ministry plans to provide psychological first aid and psychological counseling through mental health professionals through the support group.
In addition, the ministry will provide health insurance premium reductions and exemptions from paying national pension contributions for bereaved families and victims, as well as medical benefits for victims that reduce co-payments at hospitals and pharmacies under the declaration of a special disaster area.
“We will mobilize all available resources to provide medical support at the accident site, as well as psychological and funeral support for the injured and bereaved,” Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong said.