‘Your heart feels crushed’: South Koreans mourn loss of family ties more than 70 years since the Korean War

He married, had two sons and now lives in Hwacheon – just a few kilometres south of the North Korean border.

Because of its location, many of the county’s 25,000 residents are soldiers and their family members. 

Mr Kim still harbours the desire to go home, although it could be in vain. 

“I do want to go back home. I have travelled to different places, but not home,”  he said. 

“But even if I did now, I don’t think there will be anyone for me to meet. All those close to me are probably dead by now.”

SLIM CHANCES OF REUNION

With no cross-border contact and communication allowed, the rare reunion events are the only times when families get to meet.

Only 21 reunions have been held since 2000, when the inaugural event took place. Such state-arranged reunions to briefly bring some of these families together have stopped since 2018 due to cross-border tensions. 

Out of more than 132,000 South Koreans who signed up for a chance to meet their families, only about 40,000 are still alive.