Yonhap said the 33-year-old survivor, surnamed Lee, was a flight attendant on the Jeju Air flight that crashed while landing on its belly at Muan International Airport before bursting into flames on the morning of December 29.
Lee was taken to a hospital in Mokpo, 311km south of Seoul, before being transferred to Ewha Womans University Hospital in the capital.
“When I woke up, I was saved,” Lee told doctors, according to hospital director Ju Woong at a press conference.
Mr. Ju said the doctors did not ask about the details of the accident, to avoid affecting the patient's recovery process.
“He is currently communicating normally, with no signs of memory loss or any other unusual symptoms,” said Mr. Ju.
However, Lee is receiving special care in the intensive care unit due to multiple broken bones and faces the risk of serious complications, including paralysis.
Meanwhile, the remaining survivor, Ms. Koo, 25, also a flight attendant, is being treated at Asan Medical Center in eastern Seoul.
Ms Koo reportedly suffered injuries to her ankle and head but is in stable condition. Medical staff declined to provide further details about her condition.
Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok has declared a week of national mourning to honor the victims of the tragic plane crash.
Speaking at a press conference on December 29, Mr. Choi expressed his deepest condolences to the victims' families and promised maximum support in rescue work and investigation into the cause.
“We share the pain with the families who lost loved ones in this unexpected tragedy,” said Mr. Choi.
The Muan area where the accident occurred has been declared a special disaster zone to receive government assistance.
Memorial altars will be set up at the scene and in 17 cities and provinces across the country, including Seoul and Gwangju.
The acting President also pledged transparency in announcing the cause of the accident after a full investigation.
The crash, which killed 179 of the 181 people on board, came amid political turmoil, as Choi temporarily replaced acting President Han Duck-soo, who was suspended by the National Assembly less than two weeks after taking over from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was also impeached.
