By Lee Tae-hoon

The South Korean government has decided to increase financial aid for those holding privately arranged reunions of separated family members living in North Korea in third countries, Unification Ministry officials said Monday.

“As a part of a three-year plan to facilitate exchanges between separated families, the government has decided to raise the financial support for those that privately hold reunions in third countries,” ministry spokeswoman Park Soo-jin said.

She said families who use private organizations to set up reunions with their family members from the North will be able to receive financial assistance of up to 5 million won ($4,390), up from the previous 3 million won.

Park noted that, in addition, Seoul will double financial assistance to 2 million won for citizens seeking to locate their parents, children or siblings in the North through non-governmental agencies.

Another ministry official said it will pay twice the amount to low income earners, family members of prisoners of war or those kidnapped by the North.

“For less privileged individuals, the Unification Ministry will offer privately arranged reunions up to 10 million won and provide an additional 4 million won to help the reunited families keep in contact,” the official told The Korea Times.

Last year, the number of recipients of the fund stood at 28, far fewer than the 136 in 2005.