On December 20, attendees, including bereaved families, offer flowers at the one-year anniversary Seoul Citizens' Memorial Service for the 12.29 Muan Airport Jeju Air passenger jet disaster held at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News

Nine days before the one-year anniversary of the 12.29 Jeju Air passenger jet disaster, bereaved families held a memorial rally in downtown Seoul on the 20th, urging a thorough investigation into the truth.

The 12.29 Muan Airport Jeju Air Passenger Jet Disaster Bereaved Families Council (hereinafter referred to as the Bereaved Families Council), along with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, held a 'Citizens' Memorial Service' in front of Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno-gu on the afternoon of the same day.

Approximately 300 people, including about 40 bereaved family members, participated in the rally, honoring the souls of the victims in the winter rain. They held signs reading 'Investigate the Truth,' and 'Reveal Responsibility,' and chanted slogans such as 'Immediately Establish an Independent Air Accident Investigation Board.'

Mr. Kim Young-heon (52), who lost his wife and two sons in the disaster, read a letter to his family. Kim said, "I thought, 'I must live to remember you,' but your lives that have passed before me are too unfair," and vowed, "I will do my best to reveal the injustice as the father you knew."

When Mr. Kim, who had been reading the letter with forced composure, choked up and said, "I'm sad because no one has visited me in my dreams lately. Please, someone, appear in my dreams and cheer me on," the other bereaved families also burst into tears.

Kim Yu-jin, the representative of the Bereaved Families Council, emphasized, "Although 179 people were sacrificed, the state has not yet held a single person accountable," adding, "True comfort for the bereaved families is a thorough investigation into the truth. As long as the truth is not revealed, the grief cannot heal no matter how much time passes."

Kang Hee-up, the Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who attended as a government representative, said, "I gravely accept your concerns that you feel the government's efforts in the (investigation) process were insufficient," and added, "The government will stand by the bereaved families and monitor them more closely and meticulously." Most of the bereaved families remained silent and did not applaud Vice Minister Kang's memorial address.

Individuals who lost family members in social disasters such as the Sewol Ferry and Itaewon disasters, and industrial accidents, also attended to comfort the bereaved families.

Kim Jong-ki, representative of the Sewol Ferry Disaster Bereaved Families Council and also the representative of the Coalition for Victims of Disaster and Tragedy, said, "Only frontline staff are held responsible for disasters, so our society's change in life and safety is slow," and added, "Let us endure together until the day the causes of the disaster are clearly revealed and those responsible are punished."

Since the 19th, bereaved families have been touring disaster sites nationwide in a 'Truth and Solidarity Bus' to urge an investigation into the truth. On the 29th, the anniversary day, an official memorial ceremony is planned to be held at Muan International Airport.

On December 20, attendees, including bereaved families, offer flowers at the one-year anniversary Seoul Citizens' Memorial Service for the 12.29 Muan Airport Jeju Air passenger jet disaster held at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the National Movement to Restore the Republic of Korea (Daegukbon), led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, held a rally in front of the Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu around 1 p.m. on the same day, demanding the release of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The candlelit action, a progressive civic group, also advocated for the impeachment of Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae and the establishment of a special insurrection court in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu at 3 p.m.