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O Gil-nam, second from left, and civic group members hold a banner that reads “Kim Jong-il, return my wife and daughters at once” during a rally in front of the North Korean Embassy in Germany on Oct. 28. O’s wife, Shin Suk-ja, and his two daughters are believed to be held in a North Korean prison camp. / Yonhap |
Residents differ on campaign to free Shin Suk-ja family
By Lee Hyo-sik
Yun I-sang, a famous South Korean-German composer who died in 1995, is attracting public attention once again for his pro-North Korean activities while alive in the light of a recent campaign to free three women believed to be held in a North’s concentration camp.
The small port city of Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province is split over how to evaluate the Tongyeong-native whom conservative organizations claim was responsible for sending a South Korean family residing in Germany to the communist state 26 years ago.
They say the late composer should not be treated as a celebrity representing the city because of his pro-North Korean activities.
But Yun’s support groups argue that his artistic achievements should be recognized, adding that his political views need to be regarded separately from what he accomplished as a composer.
The ongoing controversy began when churches and conservative civic groups in the city launched a petition campaign calling for the release of a Tongyeong native — who defected with her husband to North Korea from Germany in 1985 — and her two children from a North Korean prison camp.
She is Shin Suk-ja, 69, and her two daughters are O Hye-won and O Gyu-won.
Shin was working as a nurse in Germany where she met O Gil-nam, a doctoral student in economics. The couple married in the 1970s and had two children, both born in Germany.
In 1985, the family decided to defect to the communist nation, persuaded by North Korean agents operating in the European nation.
But O escaped to the South a year later while he was on an overseas mission after realizing he and his family had been deceived. He left behind his wife and two daughters in the North.
In 1987, Shin and their two daughters were sent to Yodok concentration camp in South Hamgyong Province, a prison well known for its inhumane treatment of political prisoners, according to her husband and other officials.
The husband has insisted that composer Yun, who was banned from returning to the South for his close ties to the North, persuaded him and his family to move to the North. He also said the composer referred to North Korea as the “mother country.”
Bang Su-Yeol, a pastor at Tongyeong Modern Church who has been leading the “Free Shin Suk-ja Campaign,” said Yun convinced O and his family go to the North.
“The composer played a crucial role in the O family’s relocation to North Korea. Yun even delivered O six photos of Shin and the two daughters later in a bid to make him return to the North. Given all these anti-state activities, Yun should be stripped of all honors given by the city of Tongyeong,” Bang said.
Bang held a photo exhibition in May to increase public awareness of political prisoners in the North and launched a petition for the release of Shin and her two daughters.
Bang and O even sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, asking the international organization to press North Korea on the matter.
On the other hand, artist groups and other civic groups honoring his achievements in Tongyeong have expressed regret over such movements.
“It is unfortunate that Yun has been described in a negative way through many news reports. It is such a shame that some civic groups are trying to tarnish the memory of the late composer and his achievements,” said a staff member at the Yun I-Sang Memorial Park, who declined to be named. “But we do not think that now is the right time for us to make a statement about our stance. We believe the majority of Tongyeong citizens still respect and honor Yun.”
Tongyeong International Music Festival and several other cultural events have been held in the port city in honor of Yun.
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