Seoul: The transport ministry announced plans on Monday to implement comprehensive safety reforms across the aviation and ground transportation sectors in 2025, focusing on accident prevention and enhanced safety standards.
According to Yonhap News Agency, as an initial measure, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport intends to conduct a detailed inspection of all airports nationwide by January 24 to formulate an airport facility improvement plan. This will involve addressing structures that pose risks to flight safety, such as the removal or reconstruction of concrete mounds housing localizer equipment. One such structure, a 2-meter-high concrete formation at Muan International Airport, has been identified as a contributing factor to the fatal Jeju Air crash on December 29, which resulted in the loss of nearly all passengers on board a Boeing 737-800 flight.
The ministry noted that similar risky structures are present at three other airports in Korea. In addition, 18 air traffic control facilities will undergo comprehensive inspections to identify potential hazards, including staffing shortages, by the end of the month. Airlines, including low-cost carriers, will also be evaluated to ensure adherence to maintenance and safety protocols.
Based on the findings from these safety inspections, the ministry plans to unveil an aviation safety innovation plan by April, with involvement from private sector experts. The government's safety overhaul initiative extends beyond aviation to include automobiles, railways, and roads.
Initiatives aimed at reducing risks associated with electric vehicle (EV) fires will be launched this year. This follows an incident in Incheon in August, where a Mercedes-Benz EV fire resulted in damage to nearly 1,000 vehicles, amounting to approximately 3.8 billion won (US$2.57 million). These initiatives will feature a pilot program called the battery management system, set to launch in April, which will diagnose batteries and automatically alert fire authorities if a risk is detected.
Further, a new battery certification system and a history management program will be introduced next month to ensure compliance with safety standards and improve traceability. To prevent train derailments, the government will expand advanced safety systems that detect risks such as track warping due to summer heat. New axle temperature monitoring systems will be installed on some KTX trains, along with additional thermal imaging cameras and track-based temperature detection devices.
In response to accidents caused by heavy rainfall, the ministry will enhance rainfall design standards for road facilities. Safety will be reinforced at all stages of construction-design, building, and supervision-to prevent incidents like building collapses.