Grieving families gather in sorrow at the departure lounge of Muan International Airport, Monday, the day after the Jeju Air crash and explosion. Korea Times photo by Park Simon

The temporary shelter at Muan International Airport became a sea of tears on Monday as grieving families were informed of delays in the recovery and identification of the victims of the Jeju Air crash.

"We can't even hold a funeral until next Wednesday (Jan. 8). My grandchild hasn't been identified yet. I can't even send them off properly. Oh, my poor baby … " A grandmother's wails from one of the makeshift tents resonated across the airport, soon followed by sobs from other families.

Living in tents labeled with identification numbers like "110" or "79" instead of their loved ones' names, families were devastated to hear they might not be able to claim the remains of their relatives until next Wednesday.

Na Won-oh, head of the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency's investigative department, said Monday that identifying the victims of the Jeju Air crash may take until at least Jan. 8.

During a briefing at Muan International Airport, Na said, "We've sent the victims' remains to the National Forensic Service (NFS), but even with maximum effort and focus, preliminary DNA results won't be available until next Wednesday."

Of the 179 fatalities, the majority of bodies were severely damaged, making identification a painstaking process. Na added, "Apart from five bodies, it will be difficult to return remains to the families in a recognizable condition. For the rest, funeral procedures cannot proceed until DNA identification is complete."

A shelter for grieving families is set up at Muan International Airport, Monday, following the Jeju Air crash. Korea Times photo by Park Simon

Police considering interim handovers

Acknowledging the grief and urgency felt by families, police are exploring options to hand over remains sooner if families consent.

An official from the South Jeolla Police Agency said, "If the medical examiner determines that remains can be released, we are consulting with the NFS to hand them over with written consent from the families."

Currently, all victims' remains have been moved to temporary mortuaries, with the identities of 141 victims confirmed as of 9 a.m. on Monday. The police are using fingerprints to identify victims when possible,and relying on DNA analysis for those whose fingerprints were destroyed or not registered.

Grief reverberated throughout Muan International Airport as families identified their loved ones. Near the hangar where some remains were stored, cries and wails from relatives echoed.

One woman screamed, "Bring them back! This can't be real! Take me instead!" Volunteers from the disaster psychological recovery center quickly closed the tent doors, fearing the scene would deepen the anguish of other families. However, muffled sobs continued to emanate from every tent.

Officials from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters hold a meeting with the families of victims of the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport, Monday. Korea Times photo by Park Simon

A woman surnamed Ko, a 72-year-old whose son and daughter-in-law were among the victims, sat in a daze near the airport's entrance.

"Honestly, I'm scared," she said. "I went to see my child's face for the last time, but I fear they'll only show me fragments of flesh. Still, I must see it through — it's my child's face," she said, breaking into tears. Ko, who spent the previous night sitting on a bench, remained by the airport entrance throughout the afternoon.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.