▲ The home soon to be occupied by Han and her family. Her husband and son remain underwater, while her daughter was saved. Photo courtesy Jeju Sori

Ages given are those reported in the Korean press. - Ed.

The body of a Jeju resident on her way to a new life on the island was recovered from the Sewol on Wednesday, April 23, a week after the sinking on April 16. The news was released by Jeju province at 2 p.m., April 24, after her identity was confirmed.

Han (29) was aboard the Sewol with her husband, Gwon (52), and their son (6) and daughter (5). Her daughter was dramatically rescued on the day of the sinking and is now staying with relatives on the Korean mainland.

Their story has saddened the nation.

The family set out on Tuesday, April 15, with hopes of starting a second life on Jeju Island. Family friend Min Seong-gi had prepared a house for them as they had grown tired of life in Seoul and wanted to return to rural Jeju, where Gwon had lived and worked between 2002 and 2008 on a tangerine farm.

Min, a friend of 20 years, told Jeju Sori that Gwon had originally planned to come to Jeju on April 14, but had to reschedule to April 15 to attend to an issue relating to his Seoul accommodation. He thus boarded the Sewol at Incheon on Tuesday night along with his wife, son and daughter, and a 1-ton truck with the family’s possessions.

Gwon called Min on the night of departure and mentioned the heavy the fog. “I don’t know if the boat will be able to leave on schedule,” Gwon said. That was the last time the two friends spoke.

Gwon moved to Seoul in 2008 after meeting his Vietnam-born wife yet found life there bleak and complained of not being able to save any money. He longed for a simpler life on Jeju, said Min, and decided to return to farm life, making several trips to Jeju to prepare the property before the ill-fated Sewol voyage.

Today only his daughter is confirmed alive, saved on the day of the sinking at the hands of other passengers. Gwon remains underwater with his son, while his wife’s funeral will soon be held.

Upon hearing news of the sinking last week, Min went straight to Jindo and has experienced many sleepless nights. He told Jeju Sori on April 18 of his anger at the government response and misinformation. “They are all liars,” he said in a raised voice.

The friends had been talking in the days before the sinking of how the tangerine price had risen recently and were arranging a kindergarten for the children. Min said his thoughts often drifted to how their lives could have been spent on Jeju.

“Every time I talk of him, suddenly, my heart is heavy,” said Min.

In addition to Gwon and his son, one other Jeju resident, a 51-year-old casino worker, remains missing aboard the Sewol.