Korean Mother and Son Reunite with Dad for First Time in 65 Years

Due to the Korean War there are many more families like this one that have remained separated for decades.  It is good they have finally been able to see each other:

The long-awaited reunions of some 530 members of 96 families separated for over six decades following the Korean War (1950-53) kicked off Tuesday at Mount Kumgang in North Korea in a flurry of tears of joy and sorrow over the time together stolen from them.

Lee Sung-kyu, from Changwon in North Chungcheong, was separated from her husband Oh In-se in June 1950 at the outbreak of the war. She was just 19 years old.

Lee was one of 389 South Korean participants eager to reunite with 141 North Koreans at the reunion center on Mount Kumgang at around 3:20 p.m.

Some were anxious over whether they would recognize the faces of a child, spouse, sibling or parent after more than half a century had passed, in the first round of the 20th inter-Korean family reunions that will run until Thursday.

Lee, now 85, was accompanied by her and Oh’s son and daughter-in-law. Her eyes swelled with tears upon seeing her 83-year-old husband in a gray suit, a fedora hat and hearing aids.

Their 65-year-old son Oh Jang-kyun uttered the salutation “Father” for the first time in 65 years.

“I tried to live proud to be your son,” said Oh, who was born during the war and never knew his father in North Korea. “We look alike.”

His father beckoned him, said, “Come nearer,” and stroked his son’s face. It was their first conversation.

Jang-kyun and his wife proceeded to give a deep bow to his father, a sign of respect to elders.

For 37 years, Lee thought her husband was dead and even conducted memorial services for him every year.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read the whole thing at the link.