There are growing signs of a boycott against products manufactured by Aekyung Group, the parent company of Jeju Air, following the crash of one of its aircraft at Muan International Airport on Sunday, which claimed the lives of 179 people on board.
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The boycott, fuelled by public outrage over the incident and lingering cynicism surrounding an ongoing legal battle involving the group’s humidifier disinfectant products – linked to a series of injuries and fatalities – poses a significant threat to the group’s public image and future business prospects.
People have begun sharing information online about retail products manufactured by Aekyung’s subsidiaries, urging others to boycott them. The products include cosmetics, haircare, dental care, hygiene and home care items. Most of these products are made by Aekyung Industrial, which manufactures everyday household goods.
The movement is spreading fast across social networking platforms, including X.
“These are the brands of Aekyung Group, which owns Jeju Air,” said a post on social media on Tuesday, accompanied by a montage of logos from dozens of brands, including 2080 toothpaste, Kerasys haircare, Trio kitchen cleaner and LUNA cosmetics. The post urged viewers to boycott these products.
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Public sentiment driving the boycott is multifaceted.
A major concern driving the boycott is the increasing suspicion that Jeju Air may have been overworking its planes while neglecting necessary maintenance.