[Aircraft Crash] Severe Damage to Victims' Bodies May Delay Funeral Procedures

Investigation Headquarters Briefing... "DNA Confirmation to Take About 10 Days"

On the afternoon of the 29th, family members of the victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane explosion accident are looking at the passenger list at Muan International Airport in Muan County, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News

Due to the severe damage to the bodies of the victims from the Jeju Air passenger plane explosion, it is expected that it will take at least 10 days to complete the identification process and hand over the remains to the bereaved families for funeral procedures.

Na Wonoh, head of the Jeju Air accident investigation headquarters (Chief of Investigation, Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency), stated during a briefing held at Muan Airport that "there are a total of 606 body parts recovered from the scene, and it will take about 10 days until the DNA of every fragment is confirmed."

So far, out of the 179 victims, the identities of 141 have been confirmed. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport sent the DNA samples collected from the remaining 38 victims to the National Forensic Service this morning for identification.

Currently, only five bodies, which are relatively intact among the 179 deceased, can be handed over to the families for funeral procedures. The remaining bodies are so severely damaged that prompt examination is considered difficult.

He added, "We will consult with the National Forensic Service to determine whether the bodies can be released after examination. It is uncertain whether more than five will be released. Hundreds of DNA cultivation and verification procedures are required, so it cannot be completed in a short period. We will do our utmost to expedite the process."

Authorities have planned that once the police examination of the deceased is completed, the bereaved families will be contacted and the remains will be transported to funeral halls by ambulances waiting in the hangar.

However, as the police examination, which is an essential procedure for releasing the bodies, is taking a long time, the funerals of most victims have been delayed.