Data CenterKorean War Abduction

Korean War Abduction

The reality of the Korean War abduction

1) Disguised Abduction

¨ç Self-surrender, sight-seeing, invitation operation, moving out, summon
¨è Taken out from victims' homes by North Korean military officers allegedly for a few questions, eventually followed by abduction

2) Target persons were searched, arrested and abducted

An article, "Self-surrender of SO-Called 'National Assemblymen' is Desired." that appered in the July 20, 1950 edition of Rodong-Shinmun (Labor Newspaper)

"Majority of the so-called Assemblymen elected from the 5.30 Election that consisted the South Korean legislative held a meeting in Seoul and discussed serveral matters for the future. Those who are still hiding themselves in country or in Seoul, should self-surrender and remorse their crimes, as soon as possible. A theporary contact place has been established at the former Seongnam Grille located in Da-dong, Seoul. Safety of the surrendered will be fully guaranteed. in case the person in question is not available, a proxy is also welcome."

Abduction routes and types

Sending north of some of better known politicians began in or around July 1950 by means of vehicle but when they arrived at a mountainous terrain, they were forced to walk to the destination. Although there were many different ways and types, largely speaking, there were two routes and two types.

Type 1: The Internal Police and Political Security Bureau agents made the victims write self-statements several times repeatedly for interrogation and investigation then confined them in a prison. When North Korea was losing at battles in the middle of September, they handcuffed the victims in the night, transported them to Cheongnyangni station in Seoul on streetcars and kept them temporarily at the Seoul National University (SNU) Liberal Arts College auditorium near Cheongyangni. From the following night, the victims were bound into groups of 3,000 with rope and taken to Pyeongyang Prison on foot, under heavy escort, via Yeoncheon and Sabyeol-ri in Hwanghae-do in North Korea.

Type 1) As in the case of Mr. Kim Yong-il, an escaped abductee
Type 2: Victims were confined at such public spaces as schools then either abducted north or drafted immediately into the North Korean army under the veil of "voluntary soldiers" and sent to battle grounds.