Heartaching stories of the separated families
- 6 years ago
Ji-won, I think it's all about those personal stories that we're most touched by... so tell us more about some of the stories that you heard from these families.
Sure. With decades having gone by since the Korean War, many of the separated families have passed away or have gotten very old. So, for today's reunion, only 7 people will be meeting their immediate families, including Yoo Gwan-sik, an 89 year old man.
He will be meeting with his daughter, who he has never seen before.
He apparently didn't know his wife was pregnant when he intended to temporarily escape from the North Korean army, a decision which changed his life.
His bag was filled with South Korean snacks and vitamins, clothes and cosmetics and he seemed very excited to give them to his daughter.
"I was really surprised by the letter that I have a daughter. I was extremely thrilled. When I see her, I want to ask if she's married, how many kids she has, and most importantly when my mother passed away and where she is buried. I want to ask them to go visit my mother's grave every thanksgiving, that is the duty of sons and daughters."
Another participant is Han Shin-ja, a 99-year-old women who is going to see her two daughters.
When the war broke out, she was told that they will be able to get back to their houses after 2 or 3 months, so Han put her first and second daughters in the hands of their aunt and grandmother,... while she carried the youngest one on her back to run away.
But just like that,... the family was separated.
It's Han's first time to have confirmed that her daughters are alive and according to her son, all she's said throughout the years, is that her daughters must've went through much trouble growing up as orphans.
That really is a heartbreaking story. They will finally be able to see their families soon, so hopefully their years-long wound will be healed even just a little.
Thank you for the report Ji-won.
Sure. With decades having gone by since the Korean War, many of the separated families have passed away or have gotten very old. So, for today's reunion, only 7 people will be meeting their immediate families, including Yoo Gwan-sik, an 89 year old man.
He will be meeting with his daughter, who he has never seen before.
He apparently didn't know his wife was pregnant when he intended to temporarily escape from the North Korean army, a decision which changed his life.
His bag was filled with South Korean snacks and vitamins, clothes and cosmetics and he seemed very excited to give them to his daughter.
"I was really surprised by the letter that I have a daughter. I was extremely thrilled. When I see her, I want to ask if she's married, how many kids she has, and most importantly when my mother passed away and where she is buried. I want to ask them to go visit my mother's grave every thanksgiving, that is the duty of sons and daughters."
Another participant is Han Shin-ja, a 99-year-old women who is going to see her two daughters.
When the war broke out, she was told that they will be able to get back to their houses after 2 or 3 months, so Han put her first and second daughters in the hands of their aunt and grandmother,... while she carried the youngest one on her back to run away.
But just like that,... the family was separated.
It's Han's first time to have confirmed that her daughters are alive and according to her son, all she's said throughout the years, is that her daughters must've went through much trouble growing up as orphans.
That really is a heartbreaking story. They will finally be able to see their families soon, so hopefully their years-long wound will be healed even just a little.
Thank you for the report Ji-won.