Reunion of Families

Reunion
@Marcyaz (35316)
United States
October 2, 2015 7:59am CST
One Hundred South Koreans were being chosen in a lottery to meet family in the North that they hadn't seen since the 50's. When the two governments agree the Red Cross will set up the meetings. There have been nineteen reunions held since the year 2000. The meetings are watched by officials and media and include only two hours of private meeting time. A government guidebook for South Korean participants discourages questions about whether their relatives eat well, advised them not to talk about politics, and warned them against getting drunk on potent North Korean liquor. Compared to the South, North Korea is impoverished. But its leaders maintain that the people are well-fed and prosperous.
22 people like this
17 responses
vanny
@vandana7 (100545)
• India
2 Oct 15
Indians too have relatives in Pakistan. Will we ever have happy reunions? Hopefully.
2 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
2 Oct 15
Pray until the day it does happen which will be the highlight of your life.
2 people like this
vanny
@vandana7 (100545)
• India
2 Oct 15
@Marcyaz ..yes. I want all of us to stop fighting, enjoy the company of little babies, cats, dogs, and music and nature. God gave us so much.
2 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
2 Oct 15
@vandana7 That would be wonderful if it ever happened but who knows.
1 person likes this
AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
2 Oct 15
I would be very nervous, knowing how insane the dictator in North Korea is. I imagine some families had quite a reunion when the Berlin Wall came down in Germany.
2 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
2 Oct 15
I am sure all the people were nervous.
1 person likes this
howard96h
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
3 Oct 15
How sad, I hope one day this ends and they will have the freedom to travel back and forth when they want and live happily together with their families.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Oct 15
Well there is hope look at when the wall came down in Germany then those families were reunited perhaps the same will happen in Korea.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Oct 15
@howard96h We will all keep hoping and praying that it happens soon so families will no longer be apart.
1 person likes this
howard96h
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
3 Oct 15
@Marcyaz Very true, anything is possible.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
3 Oct 15
The people of North Korea are by and large brainwashed members of the world's largest cult, taught from birth to worship the nation's leader and give him thanks for the scraps they are thrown from the ruling class's table.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Oct 15
I am not sure I would agree with you on them being brainwashed. Some people try to escape so they can't be all that brainwashed.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
4 Oct 15
@Marcyaz Perhaps brainwashed was too strong a word. Indoctrinated may be more accurate.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
4 Oct 15
@DWDavis Indoctrinated is definitely a better word to us, thank you for correcting that.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472004)
• Switzerland
2 Oct 15
This is so sad, I can imagine that they will not even recognize their relatives. It's better that they are careful, they could be spies of the North Korean dictator.
2 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 15
If they haven't seen each other since the 50s I doubt they would recognise each other, would they?
2 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
2 Oct 15
Maybe or maybe not but the reunion still would be good to talk about family and catch up on what has happened all these years.
2 people like this
Glen
@glenniah (1197)
• Mandurah, Australia
3 Oct 15
It is a sad sad world that some people live in. A world that some of us have no idea about. Hopefully, one day things will change the country may become as one again
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Oct 15
We can certainly hope for peace and that the two reunite at some point in time.
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (139817)
• Roseburg, Oregon
2 Oct 15
I am surprised that they allowed the people to meet each other after all this time. It is a good thing.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Oct 15
It is surprising but a good thing for families to see each other again after all this time.
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
2 Oct 15
I think it is awful what these people have been put through. Communism is evil!
1 person likes this
David Royce
@spleendingo1 (799)
• Grand Haven, Michigan
3 Oct 15
No getting drunk at a family reunion?!? That's the only way my family communicates! But this is a good example of what extreme politics can come to. Keeping family apart for the sake of propaganda and ego is just wrong.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Oct 15
Extreme politics it is for sure, propaganda is keeping these families apart but at least some will see family members after so many years.
1 person likes this
David Royce
@spleendingo1 (799)
• Grand Haven, Michigan
4 Oct 15
@Marcyaz I'm sure they're happy about that. I would offer some of my family members to swap with theirs...lol
1 person likes this
Kimberley
@mom210 (9115)
• United States
9 Oct 15
How wonderful, they probably thought they would never see each other again.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
9 Oct 15
Yep how true and I just wish they would allow more families to visit each other.
1 person likes this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
3 Oct 15
It is a very sad situation between the two Koreas. I would love to see a reunification of the country. The North is so terrible in the way they treat their citizens.
1 person likes this
Michael Mansary
@mikemans (131)
• Kingston, Jamaica
2 Oct 15
Lord have mercy
1 person likes this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83577)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
11 Apr 16
That is the greatest reunion of the century.May their spirit soar in so much pleasure and joy.Kudos!
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
11 Apr 16
@cacay1 It definitely is the greatest reunion of the century and hope there will be more like this.
1 person likes this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83577)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
11 Apr 16
@Marcyaz There will be and the more fun and laughter in the next.
inertia4
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
4 Oct 15
That is a sick country. All those restrictions on those from South Korea. Common sense has to delegate that the people in the north are not being taken care of. It is sad that they have to win a lottery to see their families. How horrible is that. Just imagine the United States being split like that.
Sharon
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
3 Oct 15
That is so heartbreaking to me. I can't imagine being separated from my family like that.
Ria Roy
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
2 Oct 15
This is so saddening. I hope they are reunited but it's a futile hope.
1 person likes this