(Dan Tri) – Reunions are a rare opportunity for South Koreans and North Koreans to meet their relatives again after decades of separation following the war that separated their families.
Ms. Jo Soon-jeon, 83 years old (right) from South Korea, and her North Korean sisters look back at family photos during the 2015 reunion (Photo: AP)
North and South Korean officials met on June 22 to discuss plans to organize a reunion for families separated since the Korean War (1950-1953).
After the war, both North Korea and South Korea banned citizens of one country from visiting relatives or contacting each other without permission from the government.
Previous reunions, some of which were televised, have seen tearful scenes as family members got a chance to see each other again after years of separation.
The most recent reunion was held by North and South Korea in 2015. Since then, the South Korean side has also sought to resume video chats or deliver letters to families with separated relatives.
Millions of people were separated
Mr. Kim Sun-kyum, 91 years old, was assisted by Red Cross staff to meet his North Korean relatives again during the Korean-North reunion (Photo: AP)
After the Korean War ended with an armistice agreement, instead of a peace treaty, both South Korea and North Korea banned millions of their people from crossing the heavily armed border area to cross the border.
Decades later, millions of South Koreans and North Koreans are unable to contact relatives or hear news about whether their loved ones are alive or dead.
Most members of families separated after the Korean War are over the age of 70. They look forward to reuniting with their relatives before they die.
A journey of ups and downs
Generations of Koreans and North Koreans were lucky enough to meet each other before they died (Photo: Getty)
South Korea and North Korea held a small-scale reunion in 1985. But it was not until 2000, when the two leaders of South Korea and North Korea held the first summit in history, that the reunions followed
About 23,520 South Koreans and North Koreans have met each other since 2000, of which 19,770 met in person and the rest only chatted via video.
Participants in previous reunions often had 3 days to meet and chat with relatives before parting ways forever.
The meeting was filled with tears
Tears of men after many years of separation during the Korean – Korean reunion (Photo: Getty)
In previous reunions, South Koreans and North Koreans of a `near age` hugged each other and talked together in tears.
Among them, there are women who have never remarried after their families separated.
North Koreans attending the reunion event wear almost the same clothes, men will wear dark suits, ties and hats, and women will wear traditional hanbok.
Who is selected to attend?
Those participating in the reunion are all in their 70s (Photo: Getty)
From the registration records, South Korea will use a computer random system to select participants for the reunion.
Some South Koreans said they were genuinely surprised to see their relatives living in North Korea heaping praise on the country’s supreme leader even as they chatted privately in their hotel rooms.
Success
Synthetic
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