A plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea’s Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province) on the morning of Dec. 29 prompted the government to activate the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), placing the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, in charge of overseeing the emergency response while simultaneously managing economic policies and national governance amid a leadership vacuum caused by recent political turmoil.
The CDSCH is being led by Choi, the acting president and deputy prime minister for economic affairs, who chaired three meetings throughout the day. Choi assumed the role due to the vacancy of the minister of the Ministry of Interior and Safety, typically responsible for leading disaster response efforts.
Choi, whose expertise lies in economic affairs rather than disaster management, is now simultaneously handling the duties of the president, the prime minister, and the head of CDSCH. This unprecedented concentration of responsibilities has raised concerns about whether the government’s leadership structure can function effectively amid such gaps.
At the third CDSCH meeting held after returning to Seoul, Choi expressed deep regret, describing his role as acting head of government responsible for the safety and lives of citizens as an immense burden filled with sorrow and a profound sense of responsibility. He added that all government agencies, local governments, and public institutions would lower flags to half-staff, and public officials would wear mourning ribbons.
Choi also emphasized swift identification of the victims, noting that forensic investigators dispatched by the police to Muan Airport would expedite the process.
“The Central Accident Investigation Headquarters, established under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, will collaborate with the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board to thoroughly determine the cause of the accident and assign responsibility,” he said.
Under the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety, the minister of interior and safety typically heads the CDSCH. However, given the severity of the situation, including significant casualties, Choi directly assumed the role. Officials noted that Ko Ki-dong, the vice minister of interior and safety currently acting as minister, may face challenges coordinating multiple agencies.
The vacancy in leadership follows the Dec. 8 resignation of Lee Sang-min, the former minister of interior and safety, after opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party, initiated impeachment proceedings against him over his handling of a recent emergency. President Yoon Suk-yeol was also suspended from duty on Dec. 14 after being impeached by the National Assembly, leaving the government unable to appoint a new minister for the ministry.
Earlier in the day, Jung Jin-seok, presidential chief of staff, convened an emergency meeting with senior secretaries at 11:30 a.m., while the prime minister’s office reported the crash and outlined response measures to Choi.
A government official, however, acknowledged the limited capacity of both the presidential office and the prime minister’s office during the suspension of the president and prime minister. “In this situation, Choi faces an overwhelming task—not only managing an unstable economy amid the declaration of martial law and impeachment but also handling national security and disaster response,” the official said.
Given the circumstances, the government postponed its Dec. 30 announcement of the comprehensive economic policies and strategies planned for 2025, allowing Choi to concentrate on managing the aftermath of the crash.
