[imText1]The Korean War POW Family Union (Representative Lee Yeon Soon), related to the official publicizing of the news of military POW Kim Jin Soo who defected on the 24th for the first time in 55 years, criticized that such actions are an immoral act. This is because it could make the left family members of the defectors be in danger.

On the 27th, at a press conference which took place at the office of the Family Union, Representative Lee pointed out, “For an increase in repatriation of POWs who have not been able to return to South Korea and for the safety of family members remaining in North Korea, the preservation of secrecy regarding the repatriation process is absolutely needed.”

Representative Choi Sung Yong of Family Assembly Abducted to North Korea held a press conference at the Assembly’s Seoul headquarters on the 24th, revealing, “Kim Jin Soo (pseudonym, age 74, from Wanjoo, North Jeonra Province), who participated in the Korean War by enlisting at the age of 17 in August, 1951, crossed the Tumen River on the June 14 and has been staying in a foreign country.”

Representative Lee emphasized, “North Korea does not even acknowledge the existence of POWs, so the repatriation of POWs has not been able to take place through official routes. For the repatriation of South Korean POWs who have not yet been able to return to South Korea and for the safety of their family members in North Korea, utmost secrecy is needed.”

Lee Myung Chul (alias), a POW who recently entered the South, Kim Min Soo, the nephew of Kim Jin Soo, and seven other POWs participated in the press conference and urged the safe repatriation of the POWs.

Park Sang Cheol (pseudonym), who entered the South in November 2006, denounced, “We held a military discharge ceremony upon returning to South Korea, but due to the photos and news that were publicized through the media being handed over to the North, the remaining family members were punished. The South Korean government should have acted more carefully and responsibly to protect POWs and their remaining families.”

Lee Myung Cheol, a POW, urged the role of the government, “The U.S. even seeks out the ashes of the POWs, but why is South Korea’s treatment of the POWs so careless? The Lee Myung Bak administration promised to resolve the POW issue even at the cost of economic aid, but no progress has been made.”

He expressed, “The government has not made any effort, so we have been stepping up ourselves. In order to bring the family members who are still in North Korea, we have spent an exorbitant sum of money on brokers and now we are deeply in debt.

The POW Kim Jin Soo’s nephew Kim Min Ho (pseudonym) emphasized, “The place of residence of my uncle, his place of origin in the South, height, and weight were publicized, but I am worried about the safety of his family members in the North. There should be no more publicity.”