Condolences have been pouring in for the Jeju Air flightdisaster. Following the government's declaration of a “national mourning period,” citizens have visited joint memorial centers across the country to pay their condolencesand share memorial images on social media.

On December 30, a memorial altar for the victims of the Jeju Air flight disaster was set up at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. An altar was set up under a banner announcing that it was a memorial altar at Jogyesa Temple's Main Hall.

“Yesterday, when I saw the news that children had also died, my heart was very painful, so I lit a candle and prayed,” said Cha Hye-sook (71), who visited the memorial site. “I feel so devastated that I can't even explain it,” Cha said, adding, “I will continue to pray for those who died even after a while.”

“I came to pray because I feel so bad that I don't think there is anything so harsh,” said Jeong Hee-young (30). “The government and the company are to blame for the accident, but I am upset that no one seems to be responsible for it this time, either.”

Some people have canceled year-end parties and planned trips to join in the mourning. “I think we should grieve together during the mourning period,” said Han Min-young (47). “Iheard that government employees have canceled all their staff dinners and many people have canceled their trips at the beginning of the year. I don't know if we can go on a trip at this time.”

Kim So-hyun (27) said, “I think we should take good care of the bodies and minds of those who suffered a shocking event at the end of the year.” “I think the whole country is in a state of trauma,” she said.

Online tributes also continued. Citizens shared memorial images of black ribbons and chrysanthemums on personal social media to express their grief. More than 300 candles with black ribbons were lit near Muan Airport on the 2024 Online Candle Map, a civic interactive online site that allows citizens to place a candle icon at a location of their choice by pressing a “light a candle” button.

The previous day, Choi Sang-mok, Acting President cum Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, declared a “national mourning period” for the next four days in connection with the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster. Joint incense centers will be set up at Muan Airport and 17 other locations in Jeollanam-do, Gwangju, Seoul, and Sejong, according to the declaration. On the same day, Muan County set up a joint memorial site for the victims at the Muan Sports Park in Muan, Muan-gun, and began receiving condolences. A Seoul city official said, “We will set up a joint memorial in front of the Seoul City Hall.”

However, some citizens expressed concern over the declaration of a national mourning period. “I oppose the mourning period because it seems to be a guideline to grieve as the government decides.” “I'm worried that after the mourning period, it will make it difficult to ask about the responsibility of the accident or the direction of it.” In the case of the Itaewon Disaster, the government declared a week-long mourning period, but the government also faced backlash for setting up a memorial altar without portraits or memorial tablets for the dead without checking the wishes of the bereaved families.