Roh Hee-kwan, left, and his wife, Cho Jeong-sook, pose at Imjingak, close to the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea, Sept. 27. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Senior citizens from North want to meet families before it's too late

By Kim Se-jeong

Roh Hee-kwan, 87, was at Imjingak, Sept. 27, an outdoor park close to the inter-Korean border, gazing at the distant mountains in North Korea.

Visiting Imjingak is part of his holiday routine now. He, and his wife, Cho Jeong-sook, come here to wish his family members in the North well and pray that someday he will see his mother and three siblings face to face.

Imjingak is the closest place he can get to Gaesong, his hometown.

Roh fled to the South alone in fear of invading Chinese troops in late 1950 when the Korean War broke out and he was 20 years old.

He hasn't been back since, nor heard a word from them.

In front of the memorial altar dedicated to separated families, just a few days before the nation's most celebrated Chuseok holiday, he lit incense and bowed as part of an annual ritual to remember his family.

"I have nothing else to do for my mother in the North but to kneel here and wish that we get together just once before I die," Roh said.

This year, he came with almost 100 other people like him. Roh is now living in Dongjak, Seoul, and the district office arranged the trip for them.

"We have many people in the Dongjak district who were born in the North and separated from their families during the war. We want to help them remember their families," a district office official said as to why it has arranged the visit every year for the past decade.

Nationwide, the figure is estimated at 8.7 million. Imjingak is the most popular spot for those who want to do something to honor their family members in the North, and they crowd the park before and after the traditional holiday.

No one but me

Yang Woon-cho, 80, is one of the youngest in the group.

Born in Ongjin County near Baekryong Island, Yang left home ahead of the invading Chinese troops. With his father, a sister and a brother, he joined those fleeing. He was only 13 years old.

His mother and two brothers stayed behind.

"We had a sick grandmother at home. My aunt insisted she stay behind to take care of her. Then, my mother said she would stay also. So did my brothers," Yang said.

He first arrived on a tiny island adjacent to Baekryong Island. A few days later, the four boarded a military ship crewed by South Korean and U.S. sailors and were taken to South Jeolla Province.

"I thought it would be a short separation. I always thought I'd go back," the 80-year-old man said.

He's been coming to Imjingak for decades now.

"I can't even remember how long it has been," he said. It's been almost 10 years since he came with neighbors. He said the separation planted the seed of loneliness.

"I still can't forget the day at Nonsan when I had my first break in military training. That day, all my colleagues had families visit them and they spent a good time, but I had no one visiting me," he said.

His brother, sister and father married and started a new life, making it difficult for him to attach himself to the family. He said during his three years in the military, he didn't take a single vacation. "I had nowhere to go. I was alone."

In the following years, he met his wife and had three children, which eased his loneliness, but he never completely shrugged it off. He only learned to hide it from others.

Of course, he had tried to find his family in the North, but it didn't work out.

Reunion with families

He applied for Red Cross Korea help, which used to run a family reunion program, but they didn't accept him for a reunion because it had much older candidates. Twice he made a video with the Red Cross that was sent to the North, but he didn't hear back from anyone.

Five years ago, he finally received news.

One of his cousins from his mother's side defected to the South, and they met. From her, he learned his mother had died some time ago, but that his two brothers were alive but facing a severe food shortage. She also said the chances of meeting them were small because the authorities moved them to a third location.

"I was sad to hear my brothers were hungry, but I was relieved to find out they were still alive."

This year's Chuseok falls when tension on the Korean peninsula has escalated to the highest point in decades. The North has conducted a sixth nuclear test and launched a number of missiles, while U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified a war of words with Kim Jong-un.

Both Roh and Yang didn't seem too alarmed at the North's provocations, but were adamant that another war on the Korean peninsula should not occur.

"I am used to the tension. But, I don't want another war here. We've already had one and know what it is like. It's a total misery. Both will lose everything," Yang said.

Roh echoed Yang, but added the current tension made him worry about his family in the North.

Yang expressed abhorrence at the regime in Pyongyang. "Nothing has changed after all these years in North Korea."

What's bothering him more recently is his financial status.

The couple depends on their three sons financially. He wishes to work to have some financial independence but has been unsuccessful.

"Even simply cleaning, I can do it. The money will be helpful. But there's no opportunity for me. It seems like you need connections to do anything."

On this year's Chuseok, things will be like that of any other year, with his sons and grandsons in his home with lots of food to enjoy and lots of talking.

His health will be a big concern this year because he had glaucoma surgery two weeks ago. He is also still recovering from open heart surgery two years ago.

Yang said that what he wants most is to see his two brothers before he dies. Although he doesn't know whether this will happen, he said he will hold onto that hope.