South Korean air carriers suffered no casualties between 1999 and last year.

South Korea's Construction and Transportation Ministry said the country's airline safety has greatly improved thanks to government efforts to strengthen air security by raising regulations to international standards.

In the 1990s, South Korean airlines averaged one accident a year.

To raise safety standards, the ministry started in May last year the Korea Aviation Safety System.

The safety management system allowed each airline, the Korea Airports Corp. and the government's air traffic service to operate their own risk management systems.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced the system and has advised every country to implement it by January 2009.

The ministry will further boost air safety by building an early warning system.

Information on domestic airlines' safety will be released to the public every six months, to expand passenger choice and improve safety.