Tragic plane crash in Korea
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 people crashed while landing at Muan International Airport on the morning of December 29, killing 179 people. The plane was returning from Bangkok when its landing gear failed, causing it to crash-land and crash into a fence, breaking into two pieces and catching fire.
Only two people survived the plane crash, making it the worst civil aviation disaster in South Korean history.
China completes world's longest mountain tunnel
The 22.13-kilometer Tianshan Shengli Expressway Tunnel, which cuts through the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China, was completed on December 30. It is the world's longest expressway tunnel, cutting travel time through the mountain range from several hours to just 20 minutes.
The tunnel is designed with two directions, four lanes, a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and is located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level. The project was completed after 52 months, ahead of schedule, despite harsh geological and environmental conditions.
Italian city bans smoking outdoors in public places
As of January 1, the city of Milan has implemented a ban on smoking outdoors in public places, only allowing smoking in areas at least 10 metres away from other people. Violators will be fined between 40 and 240 euros.
This is a new step to improve air quality and protect public health, expanding on a smoking ban in parks, playgrounds and bus stops from 2021. Milan hopes this measure will help reduce pollution, especially ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Arrest warrant issued for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
On January 3, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) of South Korea issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of treason and abuse of power. However, security forces and the military blocked the investigation team at the presidential office.
Thousands of Yoon’s supporters protested, putting great pressure on the CIO as the deadline for implementing the order was only January 6. The CIO mobilized 150 people to deal with it, but tensions continued to rise, making the situation a serious test of Korean law.
