Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Families to meet NK relatives today
Lee Soon-kyu, center, 85, one of the 393 people who gathered for reunions with their relatives in North Korea, waits her turn to fill out a registration form at a hotel in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, Monday. Lee will meet her 85-year-old husband, Oh In-se, at Mount Geumgang in the North, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
Lee In-kyung, 62, is among the children of those who have passed away without having a chance to meet their siblings in North Korea after they were separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
In place of his now-deceased father, Lee will be lucky enough to join the inter-Korean family reunions, Tuesday, and reunite with his 88-year-old uncle who he has never met.
His uncle, Ri Heung-jong, is the oldest person among the 96 North Koreans who will meet their loved ones from South Korea at the Mount Geumgang resort in the north.
“I was not born when the uncle was kidnapped by the reds in 1950 and I mostly heard about him through a female cousin, whom I will accompany on this trip,” he told reporters.
A total of 393 South Koreans, including Lee, attended a session offered by the Ministry of Unification on travel guidelines in North Korea at a hotel in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, Monday.
This will be the first of two groups of South Koreans who will join the week-long reunions through Oct. 26. The first group will meet their relatives in North Korea until Oct. 22.
The second group, comprised of 255 people, will meet their loved ones from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26.
Those in the first group include Kim Tae-ho, a male who will meet his female cousin, Kim Tae-sook, 82, after the North Korean Army took her away during the Incheon landing by U.N. forces.
“The North Korean soldiers said they would borrow her a few days for housekeeping work while they were retreating,” Kim Tae-ho said. “Our families opposed them but Tae-sook said she would be fine and followed them.”
Lim Ok-nam, 83, says her now-deceased father “was regretful” for agreeing with her younger sister when she left home and went to North Korea during the war.
“Some North Koreans said she can pursue her academic career there and she did not hesitate to join them and left our home in the South.”
Park Yong-deuk, 80, said he “is ready to thank” his 85-year-old sister, Park Soon-ryong for being alive” if they meet at Mount Geumgang.
“It’s a pity my elder brother cannot join us because of health reasons. But me and my sister will still have enough to talk about when we meet,” he said.
Kang Jeong-gu, 81, a native of Sangju, South Gyeongsang Province, said he will give local food from his hometown as presents to his female cousin, Kang Young-sook, 82.
“I bet she missed the local food from Sangju a lot,” he said.
Kim Nak-joon, 72, will join his 84-year-old uncle, Kim Yong-hang and is worried whether he uncle has been taking care of himself for over 60 years.
“I’m bringing a winter jacket with me and also some medical aid. I will make sure he wears the jacket and keeps himself warm all the time.”