'So fortunate to be alive to see this day come'

Park Ki-dong, 82, points to his younger siblings in an old family photo. Park, who was separated from them during the 1950-53 Korean War, will head to the North next week to meet with his long-lost younger brother and sister there. / Joint Press Corps

Separated family members in South share their stories before reunion

By Kim Bo-eun, Joint Press Corps

Park Ki-dong, 82, recalls the appearance of his younger siblings, from whom he was separated during the 1950-53 Korean War. “My younger sister had different features from the rest of us _ she looked like a Western person so we called her Russian and nicknamed her Lossky,” he said. Park was a middle school student, while his sister was six, and his brother two at the time they were separated.

While fleeing to an island off the coast of Incheon, his parents and younger siblings were taken by North Korean forces while trying to get food.

Park was left with two other younger siblings in the South.

“I really missed my parents. The three of us instantly became orphans. We went through hard times, and I as the eldest did my best to take care of my younger siblings,” he said.

Park is one of the 93 South Koreans who will meet with long-lost relatives at North Korea's Mount Geumgang next week. The reunion will be the first to be held under the Moon Jae-in administration, as well as the first since inter-Korean relations started making progress this year.

“The first thing I want to ask them when we meet is when our parents passed away and where they are buried,” he said.

Among Park's suitcase full of goods for his siblings is a 500,000 won ($440) winter down coat.

“Honestly, I have never bought any coat for myself that costs more than 150,000 won. But I got it for them so they can keep warm in the winter,” he said.

“I have been sleepless in recent weeks and have been thinking about memories of eating beans at other people's farms and catching fish in streams with them.”

'I hope my brother is in good health'

Lee Soo-nam, 77, found it hard to believe it when he was informed his older brother in the North was still alive. He received the notification 68 years after he parted with his brother at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950.

“Honestly, I kept questioning whether it was really true. So I didn't even tell my relatives for some time just in case it wasn't. I feel like I am dreaming and probably will come to my senses when I meet my brother,” Lee said.

The first thought that occurred to Lee was his parents.

“I thought how great it would have been if my parents found out about their son while they were alive,” he said.

Lee recalls his mother praying for her son to return home.

At dawn, Lee's mother would place a bowl of freshly drawn water from a well and pray in front of it. She did so for about 20 years, but then gave up and stopped.

During the war, Lee's mother planned to send her eldest son to the countryside to prevent him from being drafted. But on their way Lee's brother was taken by North Korean forces and that was the last time the family saw him.

“I remember overhearing my parents talking about what had happened. They lived in grief,” he said.

“But my parents and I lost one person. My brother lost his entire family and it breaks my heart to think of this.”

Lee still has his brother's graduation certificate from Itaewon Elementary School and two photos of him.

“I remember him as being quiet and considerate. He took good care of me because there is a 10-year age gap,” he said.

“He would be 87 now so I can't really imagine what he would be like. I wonder how he has aged and hope he is in good health.”

As a gift for his brother, Lee prepared a collection of household medicines including ointments, painkillers and digestive medicine.

“Honestly I doubted he would be alive, considering the time of war. But I thought registering as a separated family member was the only thing I could do, and it became the best thing I have done so far,” he said.

Father and daughter to reunite

Hwang Woo-suck, 89, left his hometown in the North during the war with the thought that he would return in three months. But three months became 68 years.

“My daughter was three when I left my hometown. Now she is 71. She is the only person alive among my relatives there. And she is bringing her daughter who is 39,” he said.

“She will have lived through hard times, and would have been lonely without any close relatives.”

Hwang's father passed away at 60 and his mother at 77. His daughter's birth mother passed away at 51, leaving her alone.

“I just want to thank her for being alive despite all the hardships she suffered,” Hwang said.

“I hope the Koreas will be unified soon so we can visit each other and write to and call each other.”