The Tears of Wartime Abductee Families on Parents' Day

May 8, 2012
KBS


There are those who are unable to place a carnation on the chest of their parents this Parents' Day. They are the family members of wartime abductees.

With carnations in hand and for-get-me-not flower badges, which symbolize the abductees, on their chests, around one hundred families of abductees begin a walk from Seodaemun Prison.

The participants walk the path their parents were taken during the Korean War in an effort to console their longing for them.
The father of one participant left his house saying he would return after an interview with the North Korean authorities. His whereabouts have been unknown for the past 60 years.

(interview) Choi Su-gil: “I cry whenever I hear the sound of my father’s voice.”

(interview) “Do you know the sadness of not being able to see your father?”

Just a child when his father was abducted, Choi is now in his 70s. The song “The Head of Miari Hill” starts playing as the group reaches Miari Hill and Choi cannot hold back the sadness he has been holding inside him. The first time this event was held, it brought around 500 people. This year, this number has been reduced to 100 and the length of the walking course has been shortened as well.

(Recording) “We walked 9 km in 2001 and 16 km in 2005, but this year many are too old or sick to attend and I’m wondering if we’ll be able to hold the event next year or not,” said Mi-Il Lee, president of KWAFU.

At Yeoncheon, which was the last gateway the abductees took in their forced march northwards, the participants lay down carnations and express their hope for someday finding out the whereabouts and return of their loved ones.