Transport Ministry officials have said their early assessment of communications records show the airport control tower issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land. The flight had reportedly attempted one landing before being forced to “go around” when the landing gear failed to lower normally.
8.57am local time: Muan International Airport’s control tower issued a warning over possible bird strikes.
8.58am: The pilot sent a “Mayday” distress signal.
9am: The plane attempted to land on the runway but failed to deploy its landing gear.
9.03am: The aircraft crash-landed on its fuselage, collided with the airport fence, and erupted into flames.
Quoting from: https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/east-asia/south-korea-plane-crash-jeju-air-cause-what-happened-b2671091.html
I’m not a pilot or an expert by any means but I think I would have landed in water if possible. Maybe it wasn’t possible… Idk
As a general rule - any airport is better than the best water.