South Korea on Monday started the investigation into the cause of the country's deadliest air disaster in decades, as the nation mourns the victims of Sunday's airplane crash.
A total of 179 people were killed from a passenger airplane that crashed Sunday while landing at Muan International Airport in the southwest of South Korea.
According to the fire authorities, the bodies of all victims were retrieved from the scene at 20:38 local time Sunday, with only two crew members being rescued.
The accident marks the worst air disaster in the country in decades after 66 people were killed in a plane crash in 1993.
On Monday morning, investigators arrived at the crash site to determine the cause of the disaster.
The direct cause of the crash was the malfunction of the landing gear, but the specific reason for this failure remains under further investigation. Eyewitnesses and reports from the airport tower suggest that the aircraft may have suffered a bird strike at the time of the accident, but the link between the bird strike and the landing gear failure is still unclear.
In the aftermath, South Korean authorities are working to identify the victims, while various government agencies are providing support to the families of the deceased.
As the country entered a week-long period of national mourning, memorial sites for the victims were set up in major cities across the nation, and many New Year's Eve celebrations were canceled.
On Sunday, South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok said that the government would find the cause of the accident as soon as possible, and provide an explanation to the families of the victims and to the South Korean people.
Investigations into cause of South Korean plane crash underway
Investigations into cause of South Korean plane crash underway
Investigations into cause of South Korean plane crash underway
Investigations into cause of South Korean plane crash underway
China on Wednesday announced interim measures for the implementation of a flexible retirement system, in a move to enforce the previously adopted policy of incrementally raising the statutory retirement age.
The measures stipulated the procedures for applying for flexible retirement and the requirements for receiving basic pensions, among other details.
Under the new policy, individuals will be allowed to retire up to three years earlier than the new statutory retirement age once they have met the minimum pension contribution requirements. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.
Individuals will be able to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with their employers, though this delay must not exceed three years.
Experts say the new retirement system offers flexible options for workers with different situations.
"The flexible retirement policy takes into full consideration the needs of different groups, allowing workers to flexibly choose their own retirement time and to better balance life and work. The lower-aged elderly who have willingness, capabilities, and conditions, could continue to engage in social production and service roles to realize their personal value," said Li Chang'an, researcher with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics.
Chinese lawmakers voted in last September to adopt a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country, marking the first adjustment in the arrangement since the 1950s.
According to the decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the statutory retirement age for men will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while that for women cadres and women blue-collar workers will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55, respectively.
Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually.
China announces interim measures for introducing flexible retirement system
