South Korea Calls for Divided Family Reunions

President Lee Jae-Myung of South Korea has appealed to the government of North Korea to resume reunions and communication for families divided by the Korean War (1950-53).

The call came during an event ahead of the Chuseok Thanksgiving holiday, held on a border island.

President Lee addressed South Koreans with relatives in the North, emphasising the humanitarian duty to allow such divided families to confirm the fate of their loved ones, or at minimum to exchange letters.

He framed the resumption of such ties as both a political responsibility and a moral imperative.

According to the South Korean Unification Ministry, about 36,000 requests for family reunions have been submitted by South Koreans whose relations are in the North. These efforts have stalled since August 2018 due to deteriorating inter-Korean relations.