The new Construction and Transportation Minister has vowed to make regaining the Category One aviation safety rating for Korea ... his number one priority.
Kim Yong-chae made the comment after an inauguration ceremony Wednesday. He has replaced Oh Jang-seop who was fired in a controversy over the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's downgrading of South Korea's air safety standards.
Kim said the downgrading could have been avoided if the government had moved faster.
As for the call for punishment of ministry's officials responsible for the downgrade, the new minister said that such action has to be decided after a probe by the Board of Audit and Inspection.