South Korea's transport ministry has announced plans to remove concrete barriers at seven airports across the country, following a devastating plane crash in December that killed 179 people. The crash, which involved a Jeju Air flight attempting an emergency landing at Muan International Airport, occurred when the aircraft slammed into a concrete barrier at the end of the runway, resulting in an explosion.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but experts have suggested that the number of casualties could have been significantly lower if the concrete barriers had not been present. These barriers were part of a navigation system known as a localizer, which helps guide aircraft during landings. The transport ministry revealed that similar structures are in place at other airports both within South Korea and internationally.

In response to the crash, South Korean authorities have conducted a thorough review of the nation's airports and identified nine locations where the runway safety areas must be altered. Muan and Jeju International Airport, the second-largest airport in the country, are among the facilities flagged for changes. The new safety measures include replacing the concrete barriers with lighter, more flexible materials or burying them underground. At Muan International Airport, the existing concrete embankments will be completely removed, with a breakable structure planned for replacement.

A 2024 operating manual from Muan International Airport had previously warned that the concrete embankment was positioned too close to the end of the runway, and suggested that its location be re-evaluated as part of a planned expansion. Aviation safety experts, including Chris Kingswood, a pilot with 48 years of experience, stressed that obstacles within a certain distance from runways must be "frangible"—able to break upon impact—to prevent further accidents.

This tragic incident has spurred significant changes in South Korea's airport safety standards, with officials now prioritizing the removal of dangerous obstacles near runways to protect passengers and crew in the future.