First session of inter-Korean family reunions begins Monday
- 6 years ago
We begin with the long-anticipated reunion of separated families that begins in the coming hours.
It's the first reunion in three years,... during which the families have lived with the painful thought that they might pass away having never seen their loved ones again.
But, finally, this afternoon,... that will change for the roughly 90 South Koreans who were lucky enough to be selected out of a pool of tens of thousands.
Let's turn to our Park Hee-jun, who is covering the event for us throughout the week.
Hee-jun, this week's reunions will undoubtedly deliver another wave of intense emotions for those involved... as well as those around the world watching the footage,... but let's start with what can expect today...
Mark.
It's an understatement to say that it's been a long wait for these divided families.
And like you said,... the first session of the 21st inter-Korean family reunion finally begins today.
For three days,... the selected 89 South Koreans will meet their families living north of the border, relatives they've never been able to communicate since the end of the Korean War.
Since Sunday,... they've been staying here at the Hanwha Resort in Sokcho.
Today, after breakfast,... they and their chaperones will depart from Sokcho,... and head to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort-- the main venue for the event.
They'll travel by bus and enter North Korea through the customs, immigration, and quarantine office of Goseong.
Unlike the last time though,... the participants won't have to get off the bus and walk all the way to the office to be inspected for their entry.
The two Koreas have agreed to proceed with the necessary steps inside the bus,... in consideration of the participants' advanced age.
They're expected to arrive at Moung Kumgang by 12:30 PM, Korea time.... in around five-and-a-half hours from now.
After they have lunch,... they'll finally get to meet their long-parted relatives for the first time in several decades.
This will be the highlight of today's event.
From 3PM to 5PM, for two hours,... the meeting room will be charged with emotion, smiles and tears, as the participants see the faces of their parted relatives for the first time since the two Koreas split apart.
And after that meeting,... they will end the day by attending a welcoming banquet hosted by North Korea.
It's what they've dreamt of for most of their lives.
Today's reunion will be very dramatic, extremely emotional for the participants,... and for everyone watching the event in Korea and around the world.
And for many... if not all,... this will be their last opportunity to see their relatives,... making the reunion that much more meaningful. Mark.
It's the first reunion in three years,... during which the families have lived with the painful thought that they might pass away having never seen their loved ones again.
But, finally, this afternoon,... that will change for the roughly 90 South Koreans who were lucky enough to be selected out of a pool of tens of thousands.
Let's turn to our Park Hee-jun, who is covering the event for us throughout the week.
Hee-jun, this week's reunions will undoubtedly deliver another wave of intense emotions for those involved... as well as those around the world watching the footage,... but let's start with what can expect today...
Mark.
It's an understatement to say that it's been a long wait for these divided families.
And like you said,... the first session of the 21st inter-Korean family reunion finally begins today.
For three days,... the selected 89 South Koreans will meet their families living north of the border, relatives they've never been able to communicate since the end of the Korean War.
Since Sunday,... they've been staying here at the Hanwha Resort in Sokcho.
Today, after breakfast,... they and their chaperones will depart from Sokcho,... and head to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort-- the main venue for the event.
They'll travel by bus and enter North Korea through the customs, immigration, and quarantine office of Goseong.
Unlike the last time though,... the participants won't have to get off the bus and walk all the way to the office to be inspected for their entry.
The two Koreas have agreed to proceed with the necessary steps inside the bus,... in consideration of the participants' advanced age.
They're expected to arrive at Moung Kumgang by 12:30 PM, Korea time.... in around five-and-a-half hours from now.
After they have lunch,... they'll finally get to meet their long-parted relatives for the first time in several decades.
This will be the highlight of today's event.
From 3PM to 5PM, for two hours,... the meeting room will be charged with emotion, smiles and tears, as the participants see the faces of their parted relatives for the first time since the two Koreas split apart.
And after that meeting,... they will end the day by attending a welcoming banquet hosted by North Korea.
It's what they've dreamt of for most of their lives.
Today's reunion will be very dramatic, extremely emotional for the participants,... and for everyone watching the event in Korea and around the world.
And for many... if not all,... this will be their last opportunity to see their relatives,... making the reunion that much more meaningful. Mark.