The deadly crash carrying 181 people exploded while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province the previous day, claiming 179 lives and leaving two survivors.
Rescue workers are collecting the victims' remains and other personal belongings, but it will take time to identify some of the victims, as DNA comparisons with their families are required due to the severity of the crash.
Of the 175 passengers and six crew members aboard, 157 were confirmed to be residents of Gwangju and neighboring areas in the southwestern part of the country. Most were Christmas holidaymakers traveling with their families.
The retrieved bodies were temporarily moved to the airport's hangar, where they will remain in a frozen state until they can be handed over to their families for funerals.
The families of passengers whose bodies remain missing have stayed up all night, waiting for the bodies to be retrieved from the wreckage, which will remain intact for investigations to determine the cause of the tragic crash.
"The government will ensure that all available resources are poured into aiding recovery and supporting affected families," said Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who rushed to the scene of the accident shortly after taking up his position last week.
A week-long national mourning period will be observed until Jan. 4, with more than a dozen memorial altars set up across the country.
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