In 1968, Kim Hong Kyoon was kidnapped on the shores of Seokcho, Kangwon province. 39 years on and now at the age of 62, he was finally reunited with his mother (88) at Mt. Geumgang on the afternoon of May 9th.
This was the first meeting for the 15th reunification of separated families held at Mt. Geumgang Hotel, where Kim met his mother and brother Kang Kyoong (52). Nearly 40 years has passed since he had last seen his family.
The moment Kim’s mother saw him, she burst into tears. She held his hands and stroked his faced continually saying, “Hong Kyoon, Hong Kyoon, is that really you?” Hong Kyoon who was a fisherman at the time of abduction choked through the tears, “Mother, I thought that I would never see you again.”
Kim was a young man of 23, out fishing on the boat Daesung off the shores of Seokcho Kangwon province, where he was abducted at the time.
The Daesung was captured by North Korea after it had crossed the military demarcation line due to bad weather. During that year, a total of 8 fishermen were caught and 5 repatriated. However, Kim was one of the 3 fishermen who was not returned.
In addition, Lee Yang Woo (75) was able to meet Cho Eun Hyun (69) wife of the late Lee Joong Woo, brother to a prisoner of war and son Sang Ho (32). Ko Song Ji (79) was able to meet Lee Young Sook (73) wife of the late Ko Song On, another brother to a prisoner of war and son Nam Chul (42).
The oldest one, Ko Myun Chul (98) finally met his sons Myung Sul (71) and Myung Hoon (61) who live in North Korea and daughter, Jung Hwa (65). However, as he found it difficult to speak, he sat, banging on the table wailing in lament.
The 14th reunification of separated families took place in June last year. The reunification included abducted persons as well as prisoners of war. The families were reunited in the afternoon and in the evening, a dinner was sponsored by the Chosun Red Cross.
On the morning of the 10th, each family will be given time to spend with one another at the Haegeumgang Hotel and in the afternoon a visit to the Samilpo has been scheduled. On the 11th, the families will part at the Onjunggak gazebo.
