By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Foreign ambassadors from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries have expressed their condolences over the crash of a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Jeolla Province on Dec. 29.

“I was heartbroken to hear the tragic news this morning at Muan Airport,” U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg said on X (formerly Twitter), adding, ”My heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families, and our thoughts are with the Korean people at this difficult time.”

China's new ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing, who took office on Dec. 27, also wrote on his X that he was “deeply saddened” and that “the Chinese Embassy stands in solidarity with the Republic of Korea in this difficult time.”

German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt also expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, writing on X: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors and all those working to rescue them.”

British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks also posted on X to express his deepest condolences to the survivors. Ambassador Murat Tamer of Turkiye to South Korea also expressed his condolences and offered his solidarity with the South Koreans during this difficult time.

Two of the 181 people on board survived and all 179 were presumed dead after a Jeju Air passenger plane veered off the runway at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province.