President Lee: "Meticulous Preparations for Separated Family Reunions... Top Priority Between South and North Korea"

President Lee Jae-myung stated, "The issue of separated families is the most urgent matter that South and North Korea must resolve," adding, "We will systematically collect the genetic information of separated families to thoroughly prepare for future verifications of family relationships and possible reunions." This indicates the government's intention to continue making preparations for dialogue, even as inter-Korean exchanges remain suspended.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, USA, on the 22nd (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-yeong read out President Lee’s written commemorative speech containing these remarks at the '4th Separated Families Day' ceremony held at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul on the 23rd.

President Lee said, "Although distrust between the two Koreas is currently deep, our government will not give up on the path to peace and will steadily open the door to dialogue." He continued, "We will do our utmost to ensure the South and North can once again sit down together, starting with confirming the whereabouts of separated family members and working to solve this issue."

Additionally, President Lee pledged to collect and preserve life records of separated families and to expand investigations on the status of overseas separated families. Around 40 overseas separated family members also attended the event.

President Lee remarked, "Eight years have already passed since the last reunion in 2018. Nearly half of the surviving separated families have passed away without achieving their lifelong wish." He stressed, "This is a task we can no longer delay or postpone."

This commemorative speech comes as President Lee has outlined his intention at the United Nations General Assembly to support the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue and develop it into direct talks among the stakeholders for building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. In his speech at the UN General Assembly the previous day, President Lee declared, "Korea will strive to provide a foundation for the prompt resumption of direct North Korea-U.S. talks, which have long been stalled, and to turn them into talks among stakeholders towards ending the Korean War and establishing a peace regime." He also emphasized the need to restore basic communication channels between North and South Korea and to build trust.

After delivering the address, Minister Jeong referenced President Lee’s remarks at the UN General Assembly, noting, "The root of the separated families issue is the long-standing state of war, as pointed out by the President." He added, "Ending the state of war is a prerequisite for resuming exchanges, and I believe a perfect opportunity has arrived. It is U.S. President Donald Trump who holds the conviction that ending this protracted war is necessary." He continued, "I believe that when President Lee’s philosophy and will to end the state of war become reality, the pain suffered by separated families can finally be alleviated."

Lee Won-soon, who introduced her story at the event and hails from Seonsan County in North Gyeongsang Province (now Gumi City), recalled being reunited with her sister from the North—whom she was separated from during the January-Fourth Retreat of the winter of 1951—at the 15th separated family reunion held at Mount Kumgang in 2007. She said, "(Other participants) must also have come here with heavy hearts," adding, "There were so many things left unsaid, and the farewells were too difficult. I don't even know if she’s alive now, but I miss her very much."

Meanwhile, following the revision of the Separated Families Act in 2023 designating this day as a national commemoration, this year marks the fourth event. Separated family members as well as related officials attended this event.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.