Separated families seek exoneration

With the revelation that the majority of North Korean candidates for the reunion of separated families are those who were originally born in the South, many of the families once labeled as "communist collaborators" are hoping for a restoration of their good family names.

As one or more of these South Koreans¡¯ family members were in the North, many such families have received mistreatment in various areas of their social lives in the South.

Such family members were legally banned from entering public office careers due to guilt by association until the abolishment of related laws through the Eighth Amendment in October 1980. However, they have continued to suffer other forms of social discrimination.

These families suffered through years of bias and have received the cold shoulder from society even with he abolishment of the discriminatory law. They often kept the existence of family members in the North a secret.

Having lived many years with such secrecy, many hoped for a change in attitude by society at large, but they remain fearful of coming forward to reveal their family status.

"Both of our parents have passed away,¡± a 70-year-old South Korean man, whose brother is on the list sent by North Korea, said on condition of anonymity. ¡°I really have no desire to make a media circus of our meeting."

Another man in his 50s who found the name of his father on the list said, "Although I am happy to hear that my father, who had departed from our hometown in order to escape war, is still alive, I really do not have much desire to reveal myself."