The South Korean government admitted that it sent the wrong bodies to families of those who died in the recent Sewol ferry accident that killed at least 183 and left 119 missing but believed dead, according to several reports.

On occasion, families discovered the bodies had been misidentified only after they saw the ferry victims at a funeral home.

The South Korean government's emergency task force announced a new plan to ensure that no additional bodies were misidentified, according to The Guardian. The government will permanently transfer bodies to families only after a victim has been identified through DNA testing, dental records or fingerprinting. Government officials will still deliver bodies based on physical descriptions and any identification found on a person, but those transfers are subject to retraction pending scientific verification.

The tragedy rocked South Korea on April 16, nine days before U.S. President Barack Obama arrived there. His trip was originally intended to discuss North Korean military belligerence and territorial disputes in the region with South Korean officials including President Park Geun-hye.

Obama offered condolences to South Korea shortly after he landed on Friday.

"In our press conference later, President Park and I will have the opportunity to address a range of issues that we’ll be discussing here today," Obama said alongside Park at the Blue House, the executive residence of the South Korean president. "But for now, I just wanted to express on behalf of the American people our deepest sympathies for the incredible and tragic loss that's taken place."

Despite Obama's intentions, the ferry accident has the potential to overshadow policy discussions as heart-wrenching news from the recovery attempts continues to trickle in. The bodies of two victims were recently found with their life vests tied together. Another four victims were found with broken fingers, likely the result of frenzied attempts to escape the encroaching water. And, of course, about 80% of the 302 people either dead or presumed so were students at a high school to the south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. (The vice principal of that school was found hanged.)

"Just as the American people were able to rally together in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and were able to prevail over difficult times, so, too, I am sure that Korean people will, in fact, pull through this moment of crisis and be able to achieve the renewal of the Republic of Korea," Park said at the joint press conference with Obama.

For now, though, tensions remain high. Relatives of the ferry victims are enraged that so many are still missing. On Thursday, family members questioned the speed of the rescue effort and blocked rescue officials from exiting docks near the accident.