Sewol Ferry body identified on victim's birthday

On October 28, a Sewol Ferry victim's body was discovered on the fourth floor bathroom of the sunken ship. The following day, the victim's body was identified by family and survivors to be high school female student Hwang Ji Hyun. According to her family, October 29 marks Hwang's 18th birthday.

On October 29, Hwang's father Hwang In Yeol was called in to confirm the body's identity. After reviewing a picture, the body's shoe size, and outfit, Hwang In Yeol stated that the body was that of his daughter before bursting into tears. A Sewol Ferry survivor further added that he last saw the female student in the hallway of the fourth floor, further supporting the possibility that the body is indeed that of Hwang Ji Hyun. The rescue team plans on carrying out a DNA test in order to further confirm the family and acquaintances' assessments.

It has been 102 days since the last body, a female cook, was found on the sunken ferry, and so the discovery of Hwang's body was nothing short of a miracle. Hwang's family stated at a press conference that they had prayed for Hwang Ji Hyun's return and that she finally did so on her 18th birthday.

Currently, nine people, four of whom are female students, remain missing since the Sewol Ferry incident. The above video is a news clip of the Hwang Ji Hyun's recovery. With this recent discovery, Sewol families are pushing for the continuation of the underwater search, while others express their concern that it might become dangerous with the coming winter season.

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