First session of inter-Korean family reunions begins Monday
- 6 years ago
Only one place to start this morning.... and that's with the reunion of separated families that begins in a matter of hours.
It's the first such event in three years.
The families heading north as we speak have lived with the painful thought that they might pass away before seeing their loved ones again.
But, finally, this afternoon,... that will change for the roughly 90 South Koreans who were selected from a pool of tens of thousands of South Koreans who applied.
Let's turn to our Park Hee-jun, one of the reporters who is covering the event for us this week.
Hee-jun, this week's reunions will undoubtedly deliver a wave of intense emotions for those involved... as well as those in Korea and around the world when we start seeing the footage,... but let's start with what's been happening today...
Mark.
Today's going to be a ray of light for these separated families who've been waiting for this moment for so long after being torn apart nearly 70 years ago.
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 outbreak of the Korean War -- not even knowing whether they were still alive until recently.
Since Sunday,... they've been staying here at the Hanwha Resort in Sokcho.
Today, after breakfast,... they and their chaperones boarded buses,... and set off to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort-- the main venue for the event.
I could really see how nervous they were... it's something that they've only dreamt of since the moment they were ripped apart from their loved ones.
It was as if the participants, mostly over 80 years old with many older than 90,... had been living to experience this moment, for this rare chance to see their families again.
They arrived at the customs, immigration, and quarantine office of Goseong half an hour ago.
And they're expected to arrive at Mount Kumgang by 12:30 PM, Korea time.... just two-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 -- 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 were divided.
And after that meeting,... they will end the day by attending a welcoming banquet hosted by North Korea.
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 chance to see their relatives,... making the reunion that much more meaningful. Mark.
It's the first such event in three years.
The families heading north as we speak have lived with the painful thought that they might pass away before seeing their loved ones again.
But, finally, this afternoon,... that will change for the roughly 90 South Koreans who were selected from a pool of tens of thousands of South Koreans who applied.
Let's turn to our Park Hee-jun, one of the reporters who is covering the event for us this week.
Hee-jun, this week's reunions will undoubtedly deliver a wave of intense emotions for those involved... as well as those in Korea and around the world when we start seeing the footage,... but let's start with what's been happening today...
Mark.
Today's going to be a ray of light for these separated families who've been waiting for this moment for so long after being torn apart nearly 70 years ago.
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 outbreak of the Korean War -- not even knowing whether they were still alive until recently.
Since Sunday,... they've been staying here at the Hanwha Resort in Sokcho.
Today, after breakfast,... they and their chaperones boarded buses,... and set off to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort-- the main venue for the event.
I could really see how nervous they were... it's something that they've only dreamt of since the moment they were ripped apart from their loved ones.
It was as if the participants, mostly over 80 years old with many older than 90,... had been living to experience this moment, for this rare chance to see their families again.
They arrived at the customs, immigration, and quarantine office of Goseong half an hour ago.
And they're expected to arrive at Mount Kumgang by 12:30 PM, Korea time.... just two-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 -- 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 were divided.
And after that meeting,... they will end the day by attending a welcoming banquet hosted by North Korea.
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 chance to see their relatives,... making the reunion that much more meaningful. Mark.