Gil-Su’s Family Will Come To Seoul Soon

Seven family members of Jang Gil-Su, who entered the Beijing office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) seeking political asylum, left China for Singapore Friday. It is highly likely that they will arrive in Seoul as early as Saturday or Sunday morning (July 1).

A high-ranking government official said yesterday that ``having considered the security of the family and other issues, the government is trying to bring them to the South as soon as possible following the wish of Jang’s family.`` However, ``it is possible that they may arrive in South Korea a few days later, if respite and medical treatments are necessary since two members of the Jang’s family are elders,`` said the official.

According to AFP, a pilot confirmed that the Jang’s family and their travel companions arrived at the Singapore`s Changi Airport, after having left from the Beijing Airport yesterday. Colin G. Mitchell, regional representative of the UNHCR office in Beijing, said at a press conference held yesterday morning that ``the Chinese government allowed them to leave China on humanitarian grounds.``

It was reported that the Chinese government settled this case within four days since the incident because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is scheduled to vote on July 13 in Moscow to select the hosting country for the 2008 Olympic Games. China is regarded as one of the front-runners for the bid.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement that ``we welcome China’s decision to allow the seven North Korean defectors to leave for a third country on the humanitarian grounds.`` It was reported that while allowing the Jang’s family to leave for a third country, the Chinese government told the South Korean embassy in China and the UNHCR that ``this case was settled on the humanitarian grounds. This, however, will not serve as a precedent case to solve the similar issues hereafter.``

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com