STORY: These empty desks in a South Korean office sit next to a calendar marking days off after Christmas.

The five female colleagues who worked here had flown to Bangkok to celebrate their promotions.

But their holiday ended tragically when their return Jeju Air flight crashed on Sunday at the Muan International Airport.

Still in shock at the loss of their co-workers and friends, colleagues wearing black ribbons cried at their desks.

White chrysanthemums were placed on the desk in mourning.

At the public education office, officials set up an altar where colleagues and neighbors can come to pay their condolences.

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Bowing in tears, Lee Kwi-sun, a school chef, vividly remembered her last moment of holding hands with one of the victims.

“I still can’t believe it’s real until now. She was promoted recently, and all of a sudden this happened. I still can’t believe it. I miss her smile."

Lee Dae-keun, who worked in the same department as another victim, said they had been looking forward to their long-awaited trip.

“Whenever one sees flowers on that empty desk, sadness rushes in."

At the request of colleagues who asked for privacy, Reuters is not naming the victims.

They were among 179 people killed in South Korea's deadliest air disaster.