On October 20th, Daily NK got the chance to
interview Ahn Yoon-jun, a grandfather who was very much looking forward to being reunited with
his family at the second round of family reunions that began on October 24th. These reunions are the 20th occurrence of such meetings and this round will bring together approximately 90 people from South Korea to meet 255 of their Northern
relatives. Couples who haven’t met in 65 years and fathers who never got a
chance to see their children in the flesh will come face to face at the
reunion event.
Other family members never got a chance to
give a proper goodbye as the winds of time and the chaos of the war separated
them without a moment’s notice. What would it be like to be such a person and
be selected to participate in one of the reunions? We sat down with Ahn
Yoon-jun to find out what he was doing to emotionally prepare himself for the
life-changing event.
1. First of all, I’d like to congratulate
you for being selected to take part in the family reunions. In just a few short
days, you’ll have the opportunity to see family members that you haven’t met in
over 60 years. How does it feel?
I’m extremely joyous. I’ve been waiting a
very long time to have the chance to see them once again.
2. Next, I’d like to ask you about your
life in the North and how your family ended up being separated.
My family were landowners during Japanese
occupation of Korea in the first part of the twentieth century. As a result, we
had very poor songbun [a type of caste system designated by family political
background and loyalty]. Our land was broken up and given to the tenant farmers.
We were left with virtually nothing. After the land was redistributed, I
thought long and hard about what I could do to make a living and help my family
to recover. I realized that I would be forced into military service for the
North Korean army. I resolved to escape the North because I was strongly
opposed to that. I escaped in the middle of the night by myself, leaving my
mother, father, and younger siblings behind.
As I made my escape, the South Korean army
and UN forces were marching North. I met up with them on my way south and
joined their forces in November of 1950. My army regiment was the first
division under General Baek Seon-yeop. This division was responsible for
the Western front. I continued to serve in the first division after the war all
the way until 1955.
3. It seems that you remain conflicted over
your decision to leave the North by yourself under the cover of darkness all
those years ago. Is that the case?
That goes without being said. The hardest
thing over the years has been during the holidays. Not being able to meet my
family during these festive days has been really difficult. Over the years,
I’ve been unable to chat and laugh with them. I wasn’t even able to ask what
they’re doing or how they are feeling. Until I got married, these kinds of
thoughts dominated my life. To this day, holidays are the time of year that are
the most painful.
Another truly painful experience was
getting the news that one of my younger sisters had passed away. She died on
February 18, 1983. I don’t know the particulars. I hope to find out at the
family reunion. I also want to find out about my parents’ death. I hope that
none of these topics are too provocative for the North Korean censors. I don’t
want to get my family in trouble. We were warned not to discuss anything of a
provocative nature. We’re only allowed to ask about when they died and where
they are buried. Because of these regulations, I have mixed feelings about what
to expect from our conversations at the reunion.
4. Can you tell us a bit about your family
in the North?
When I left, I had three younger sisters
living with both parents and my grandmother. Now, all but two of my younger
sisters have passed away.
5. Which North Korean relatives will be
attending the reunion?
Three people are coming. According to the
notification letter I received, my two younger sisters and my younger brother
will be going. It also said that my younger sister is 82. When I saw that, I
thought, ‘My God, how old she’s gotten!’ I know I’m old too, but seeing that
number on the piece of paper really made it hit home for me. In truth, they
lived in the dorms during their middle school years, so I didn’t get to spend
too much time with them. And now, 70 years from the time of our last meeting,
we will once again come face to face. This reunion is definitely a dream come
true for me. There so much I want to say. There’s also so much I am not allowed
to ask. I hope it all turns out okay.
6. There must be so many things you want to
communicate to them that it’s hard to pick, but I wonder what is the first
thing you want to say to your sisters?
The first thing I want to say to them is
that I am sorry.
6-1. I understand. Can you elaborate a bit
for us?
I should have been there to look after
them. But since I was gone, they had to step up and care for one another.
Especially when my parents died and my sister died, it must have been so hard
for them. I am just so sorry and I hope they can forgive me. That’s the first
thing I want to say. After that I’ll ask other things. One of my sisters was
artistically talented. So I’ll probably ask a bit about that.
6-2. When you think about your sisters,
what sorts of memories come up?
Of course, I remember her face. I also
remember her having a scar on her forehead. She got that scar when we were
kids. Her and I were running about the house and she bumped her head on the
armoire. That’s one of the first things I’ll be looking for to identify her.
Once I see that, it will be her without a doubt. I don’t know about the other
sister. If she’s like my mother, she’ll be chubby, but if she’s like my father,
she’ll be a bit thinner.
7. Do people in South Korea know that you
have family in North Korea? How do you talk about it with you family here in
South Korea?
Yeah, they all know. It’s easy to tell
during the holidays. Other families have lots of grandparents and
grandchildren, but our house doesn’t even have one aunt, so it’s fairly
obvious. I’ve explained to everyone how I was born in North Korea.
8. By any chance, do you have a present
that you want to give to your family when you meet them. I heard that you went
shopping early today.
According to the announcement I received,
we are only allowed to give gifts such as household items and medicine. I’m
worried that whatever I give might be taken away from them, so I couldn’t give
anything too good. I just prepared some simple clothing items, cold medicine,
digestive medicine, nutritional supplements, pain relief pills, and some other
things. I split them into two bundles and wrapped them up.
9. The idea of this event being called a
‘reunion’ is a bit of a contradiction in terms since most attendees will not
get the chance to see each other. That being the case, having to part ways at
the end of the event will be all the more devastating. How are you preparing
emotionally for that aspect of the reunion?
I think if the government really strives to
make a true reunion event for its people, then they won’t be satisfied with a
single meeting, but they’ll also push for measures that include follow up
communication through letters or other means. There are ways for us to stay in
touch that would not breach the North’s sensitive protocols about information
exchange. So I wish the government would try to make something like that a
reality. In addition, I’d also like to be able to give financial contributions
to my relatives if they are struggling to get by. It would just mean the world
if we were given the smallest increase in ability to interact with one another.
10. I feel for you and I hope it works out
for the best. As someone who has been separated by the division of the Korean
peninsula, what is your wish?
My wish? I guess the first thing would have
to be unification. Failing that, I’d like to see some avenues open up for us to
help ordinary North Koreans. I think that would be a good way to help out not
just my family, but the other 24 million + residents of North Korea that
struggle to make ends meet.
11. It will probably be quite bittersweet
to see you sisters at the reunion. Do you think there will be a lot of crying?
I don’t want to just tear up, I want to
really wail. When I think about how my sibling struggled in my absence I feel
such shame and guilt. I know for sure that I will cry. I plan to drop to my
knees and beg forgiveness before I sit down with them at the table when we
first meet. I am not sure about the other people attending this reunion, but I
definitely know that I am going in search of forgiveness.
I hope we get another chance to speak after
you attend the reunion. I wish you the best of luck and I hope it all goes
well. Thank you for coming in to speak with us today.
