Ministry of Unification Holds Meeting with Related Organizations for Separated Families... Online 'Manghyang Gyeongmoje' Memorial Ceremony Also Planned

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Unification is promoting communication with heads of organizations related to separated families and displaced persons ahead of the Lunar New Year and will hold an online Manghyang Memorial Ceremony event.

On the afternoon of the 8th, Minister of Unification Lee In-young will have an extensive communication session at the Inter-Korean Dialogue Headquarters with Oh Young-chan, Chairman of the Committee for the Five Northern Provinces, Kim Yong-ha, Chairman of the Unification Memorial Association, Jang Man-soon, Chairman of the Ten Million Separated Families Committee, and Heo Deok-gil, President of the Central Federation of Northern Province Residents.

The minister will discuss policy directions for separated families and exchange various opinions on ways to expand communication with separated families amid the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

Considering the safety of elderly separated family members during the COVID-19 situation, a non-face-to-face 'Manghyang Memorial Ceremony' event will also be held. The Manghyang Memorial Ceremony is an event held annually during Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and Hansik by displaced persons who have their hometowns in the North to soothe their longing for their homeland.

On the 10th, a Manghyang Memorial Ceremony experience video will be distributed to all 50,000 applicants from separated families, allowing the elderly to alleviate their longing for family without having to visit the Imjingak Mangbaedan in person. The video includes ▲an indirect experience of memorial activities at Imjingak Mangbaedan ▲the northern atmosphere such as Odusan Unification Observatory ▲and an encouragement speech by the Minister of Unification.

On the Lunar New Year day, the 12th, support will be provided for on-site guidance, flower offerings, and incense burning to ensure that visitors to Imjingak Mangbaedan can safely and conveniently carry out memorial activities, and Lunar New Year greeting cards and holiday gifts expressing sympathy will be delivered to 580 ultra-elderly separated family members aged 100 or older residing in the country. The card contains the government's strong determination to resolve the issue with the message, "We will do our best to reunite with our beloved hometown and family as soon as possible," and wishes for the health and peace of the elderly separated family members.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "Going forward, the government will make every effort to realize multifaceted exchanges for separated families, such as video reunions and video letter exchanges through the prompt resumption of inter-Korean dialogue, regular reunions through renovation of meeting facilities, and confirmation of life status."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.