Today is 'Day of Remembrance for Abductees to North Korea'... "A dedicated department must be established"

"Create a Dedicated Department for Abductees Like Japan and Make Efforts"
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The families of victims who were taken to North Korea during the Korean War and never returned have demanded that the government establish a 'Dedicated Department for Abductees.' They argue that, like Japan?which has created related organizations to address the issue of its citizens abducted by North Korea?the government should set up a similar body and actively pressure North Korea.

On the 28th, the Korean War Abductees' Families Association held the '10th Korean War Abductees Remembrance Day' event at the National Korean War Abductees Memorial Hall in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, urging the government to "take more proactive measures to resolve North Korea's abduction crimes before it is too late."

The family of abductees is paying tribute and bowing their heads in silence in front of a photo of the abductees.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a resolution announced that day, the association requested the government to establish a 'Dedicated Department for Abductees.' While Japan directly intervenes for the repatriation and confirmation of the whereabouts of its 12 abductees, the Korean government has shown no such initiative. Japan has a pan-governmental organization called the 'Headquarters for the Abduction Issue,' and successive prime ministers have urged North Korea to resolve the abduction issue on various occasions.

The number of South Korean abductees during the Korean War is estimated to be around 100,000. The association cited figures estimating about 500 South Korean prisoners of war still alive in North Korea and 516 abductees who did not return after the war, repeatedly urging the government to take action. In addition, over the past 10 years since 2013, six South Korean detainees abducted by North Korea have been identified: Kim Jeong-wook, Kim Guk-gi, Choi Chun-gil, Kim Won-ho, Go Hyun-cheol, and one unidentified individual.

Furthermore, the association emphasized the need to file a complaint against North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to include content related to abductees during the Korean War in South Korean textbooks. They particularly stressed, "The government must recognize that approaching North Korea solely as a negotiation or dialogue partner is a guaranteed failure," and warned, "We must not overlook the fact that North Korea is utilizing even civilian humanitarian aid for its nuclear development."

National 6.25 War Abductees Memorial Hall, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Paju-si]

Lee Seong-ui, chairman of the Korean War Abductees' Families Association, lamented, "We have continuously requested the government to create a dedicated department for abductees, but our voices have not been heard," adding, "We still do not know the whereabouts or even the survival status of our abducted family members." He recalled that First Lady Kim Keon-hee met with families of abductees and detainees last April and emphasized, "The government must implement policies to care for the victims and their families."

Meanwhile, the event was attended by Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Kim Kwang-dong, and Park Sun-young, director of Mulmangcho. In his encouragement speech, Minister Kwon stated, "The government has not fully fulfilled its role in caring for the pain and difficulties of the families of abductees," and expressed his sincere condolences. He added, "Considering the age of abductees and their families, we are striving to resolve practical issues such as confirming their survival status," and said, "Although North Korea refuses dialogue, we will continue efforts to find a solution."

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