As it was the most devastating air disaster in South Korea’s history, it led to widespread cancellations of entertainment programs and year-end awards ceremonies.
The accident occurred at 9:03 am on December 29, when Jeju Air flight 7C2216 (Bangkok to Muan) crashed while attempting to land at Muan Airport. There were 181 people on board, including 175 passengers and 6 crew members. While two people were rescued and hospitalized, the remaining 179, including two Thai citizens, died.
The government has designated a seven-day period of national mourning starting December 29. That evening, the 2024 MBC Entertainment Awards were ultimately canceled after extensive discussions. However, with numerous awards ceremonies still on the calendar, broadcasters found themselves in a difficult position. The MBC Drama Awards, scheduled for December 30, and the KBS Drama Awards and SBS Entertainment Awards, both set for December 31, remained “in discussion” as of this writing, reflecting the broadcasters’ dilemma.
Many netizens have expressed strong opposition to proceeding with these events, stating: “How can celebrating celebrities take precedence over mourning the dead?” AND “Should the public be forced to watch celebrations instead of broadcasts honoring the victims?However, some television staff expressed skepticism about canceling the ceremonies, citing their livelihoods. One staff member noted: “This is our livelihood. We’ve put in months of preparation and if the events are canceled we don’t get paid.”
Under public pressure, MBC and KBS announced changes to their plans. Both will cancel live broadcasts and red carpet events, instead switching to pre-recorded formats. SBS, however, has taken a firmer stance, canceling both the live and recorded portions of the Entertainment Awards scheduled for December 31. The live broadcast will be canceled for now, but the event will still proceed and the recorded portion will be broadcast later.
Despite the tragedy, the reasons why terrestrial broadcasters cannot completely erase these events are clear. Freelance staff are often paid per broadcast and cancellations mean they will not receive the agreed upon pay. Many had been working on these events for months without any upfront compensation. Completely canceling the events would result in huge financial losses due to breaches of advertising and sponsorship contracts, which include heavy penalty clauses.
An industry expert explained: “The end-of-year awards ceremonies require months of preparation. Freelancers are paid per show, meaning their income depends on whether the show goes on the air. The cancellation impacts not only salaries but also contracts with sponsors.”
While the efforts and work of those preparing for these broadcasts cannot be ignored, the tragedy of 179 lives lost outweighs all other considerations. Public discontent is not directed at the victims or their families, but rather at broadcasters who fail to act decisively in line with national sentiment.
As the three major networks remain silent amid mounting criticism, the voices of grieving families and frustrated staff grow louder. However, one thing remains clear: nothing is more precious than human life.
