"Please refrain from sharing photos and videos of the aircraft disaster"...Concerns over 'secondary trauma' in the medical community

Ambulances are waiting at Muan International Airport, where a makeshift morgue has been set up. / ⓒ Yonhap News Agency

As shock and sadness spread nationwide due to the Jeju Air plane disaster at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do on the 29th, medical professionals and experts urged people to refrain from sharing photos and videos of accidents online to minimize trauma and psychological sequelae.

On the 29th, the Jeollanam-do Medical Association and the Gwangju Medical Association issued a statement emphasizing psychological support and said, "To alleviate the deep sadness of bereaved families, we will cooperate with mental health specialists to provide psychiatric support such as psychological counseling and drug treatment."

Those who encountered the video related to the accident were also encouraged to consult experts to prevent mental trauma. In particular, those who witnessed or watched the accident scene on video are likely to suffer secondary trauma, so psychological management is urgently needed.

These traumas, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can cause long-term psychological problems such as re-experience, avoidance, and depression, he said, asking people to refrain from sharing accident videos and photos.

The emergency committee of the Korean Medical Association said, "We cannot help but grieve with the people for the accident of injustice," adding, "We will do everything necessary to help the victims and their bereaved families."

Baek Jong-woo, a professor of psychiatry at Kyung Hee University Hospital who served as the president of the Korea Trauma Stress Association, asked his SNS, "We should comply with the disaster reporting rules and avoid repeatedly broadcasting accident scenes." He then emphasized, "Psychological first aid is needed for bereaved families as soon as possible."

Reporter Park Sun-young of Digital News Team