Dental records from Korea were used to identify a Hamilton woman whose vehicle careered off the Pukete Bridge in June.

Eunki Kim, 38, went missing on the night of June 6 after her Toyota Surf plunged off the bridge into the Waikato River, sparking a massive search.

Yesterday Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton, of the Hamilton CIB, said the body of a woman was recovered from the Waikato River, near Mercer, on July 23.

The state the body prevented an immediate identification.

He said police were still waiting for the results of forensic examinations to formally identify the body.

However Korean Association president Sang Ha Park said the family had been informed that the body was Eunki, and that plans were already underway for her funeral to be held in Auckland on Saturday.

"The family was asked for information about a filling that Eunki had in her mouth - the dentist in Korea confirmed that the filling was theirs," Mr Park said.

The mother of two moved to New Zealand with her husband, Yong Lee, in 2000. The couple settled in Auckland where Mr Lee worked for the Korean consulate for seven years.

They moved to Hamilton four years ago and earlier this year Eunki realised a life long dream to own a sushi shop. Her business Sushi Town opened in March at Grandview Mall.

However, the shop has remained closed since she went missing and Mr Park said her family was now hoping to sell the business.

He thanked the Waikato community for their endless support in trying to find the popular woman who he said "was sadly missed by all who knew her".

"We want to the thank the community and the Waikato Times for their support in raising awareness of our situation."

Mr Park said the Korean community was "relieved" to have her body back.

"It is very important to have [Eunki] back with us so we can celebrate her life and complete the grieving process." Meanwhile, stunned Frankton workers arrived to their workplace to find a man laying dead in the gateway of his property early yesterday.

Who he is and why he was lying on the footpath of Green St is still part of the police investigation, but Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said they will be in a position to confirm whether his death is suspicious by this afternoon.

The man's body was found face down on the footpath, with a gate to the property - where he lives and works - partially open.

His body was removed from the scene late yesterday afternoon before being taken to Auckland for a post mortem examination to determine a cause of death.

- © Fairfax NZ News