KEY POINTS:
Two Korean teenagers who lost their right arms in the tourist bus crash last weekend have spoken for the first time of their fears and hopes in the aftermath.
The crash, south of Tokoroa, in which all 15 tourists were injured, has impinged heavily on the lives of three families.
One is dealing with the loss of 18-year-old Jung-Min (Jackie) Hun's arm and the bad scarring of the face of her sister, 13-year-old Soo-Min (Claire). Their father has neck and spinal injuries.
Claire had a skin graft this week, taking flesh from her buttocks, and more operations are expected.
The sisters, now in Waikato Hospital, particularly wanted to respond to the messages of sympathy they have received.
Jackie is trying to remain "optimistic", despite the loss of her arm.
Just weeks ago, she was accepted at an American university to study for a chemical engineering degree. She is hopeful an artificial limb will keep her dream alive.
Her sister is eager to get back to her studies, too, but accepts that going home is a long way off.
The girls' father, Sin-Ho Han, a professor of chemical engineering, has spinal injuries and was able to walk gingerly about the ward yesterday thanks to a neck, shoulder and back brace.
"The Hamilton Korean Society has been very good to us and all the other families," Professor Han said.
Volunteers had helped with translation, accommodation and transport and three local Korean restaurants had pitched in with food.
"Thank you to the people who helped us at the crash also - one of them was named Kristy - and all the young men there. I did not have time to thank them. If possible, I will invite them to Korea."
Professor Han's wife, Eun-Sook Seo, a professor of Asian philosophy, was the only family member to have escaped the crash largely unscathed.
She is confused and upset over New Zealand law, which prevents the family from suing the bus company or its drivers for personal-injury compensation.
ACC has assured the family that $100,000 will be provided to cover the cost of an artificial limb and related expenses.
Another family of four saw the mother, Mi Ok Suk, and father, Sang-Kee (Simon) Suk, suffer cuts, deep grazes, and bruises all over their bodies.
Their 18-year-old daughter, Kuy-Ri (Curie), lost her right arm from just above the elbow.
Mr Suk said Curie had harboured hopes of pursuing journalism studies, probably at a Hawaiian university, before the accident.
Curie put on a brave face yesterday as she spoke briefly and slowly. Managing a slight smile, she spoke about a craving for a "Korean pizza".
Mr Suk said the joke belied her bravery. "As the bus went down, she put her arms around her brother [11-year-old Qu-Hong Suk] and protected him."
She had essentially sacrificed her arm to save her brother, left largely unscathed from serious injury.
Mr Suk described the accident as "pure hell. There was blood everywhere, and panic".
He was critical of the state of the bus, which had no seatbelts, and felt guilty for failing to speak up at Auckland Airport.
His said his daughter would suffer socially in Korea as people with disabilities were shunned by society.
The third Korean woman to have lost her arm, Youn Hee Chang, was not well enough to speak yesterday.
Hamilton Korean Society chairman Eisen Shim said Ms Chang had a good reputation in her homeland for her computer design work.
Mr Shim was fearful how the crash was being received back in Korea, where it had received a large amount of media coverage.
"I just wonder whether Korean people will still come to New Zealand. It could have an effect on migrants and tourism, as the accident can affect those industries.
"They must understand that this is an unusual, rare event."
