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| ▲ Rep. Kweon Seong-dong (R), acting leader of the ruling People Power Party, holds the hands of a family member of a victim of the deadly Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport in the county, about 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 30, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Rep. Lee Jae-myung (L), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks at a party meeting in Muan County, about 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 30, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
rival parties-plane crash
Rival parties vow support to families of Jeju Air crash victims
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- The ruling and opposition parties pledged Monday to offer support to the families of the victims of this week's Jeju Air plane crash that claimed 179 lives while calling for swift recovery efforts.
The bipartisan call came as politicians visited Muan International Airport in the southwestern county, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul, where the crash took place Sunday.
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, acting leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), vowed support for the funeral services of the victims as he met bereaved family members at the airport.
"As a politician and acting leader of the People Power Party, I apologize to the people and the bereaved family members for this tragedy happening," he said. "I will do everything I can to resolve the situation and uncover the truth."
Rep. Kwon Young-se, the PPP leader nominee, was set to visit the airport later in the day after the confirmation of his appointment.
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), met the victims' family members at the airport Sunday and convened a party meeting at its office in Muan the next day over response measures to the accident.
"While it is important to find out the cause and come up with measures so that a tragic accident like this never happens again, what is now most important is the accident's recovery efforts," Lee said at the party meeting.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met acting President Choi Sang-mok earlier in the day to discuss recovery efforts and was scheduled to visit a joint memorial altar for the victims in the southwestern county later Monday.
Most events at the National Assembly were canceled Monday, with the DP appearing to set aside its political offensive against the ruling party and the government over President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law.
A total of four parliamentary committee sessions for questioning on the short-lived imposition of martial law, scheduled on the day, have been postponed.
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