The pain of families of wartime abductees seeking support from the
international community
Unification Ministry holds a commemorative event for the 1st Day of
Remembrance for Korean War Abductees to strengthen international
solidarity on abduction issues
On May 15, Lee Seongui, President of the Korean War Abductees’
Family Union, raised a black-and-white photo of her father, abducted
in 1950 when Lee was just 18 months old, during an address at the
United Nations Headquarters in New York. She spoke of the enduring
pain experienced by families of wartime abductees and called for
greater international attention and support for resolving the issues
of abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war.
Speaking before representatives of the 15 UN Security Council member
states convened to assess the implementation of resolution 2474 on
persons reported missing in armed conflict, Lee recited a poem titled
“Oh My Homeland, Oh UN,” written by a wartime abductee.
She emphasized that “had the issue of wartime abductions during the
Korean War been properly addressed, North Korea’s subsequent
abductions targeting citizens of other countries, including Japan,
Thailand, and Romania, might have been prevented.”
On December 20, 2024, the South Korean government promulgated and
enacted via official government publication the partially amended Act
on Finding the Truth of the Damage from North Korea’s Abduction During
the Korean War and Restoring Honor of the Victims that designates June
28 as the Day of Remembrance for Korean War Abductees to raise
awareness and honor the memory of Korean War abductees.
Marking the first official observance of the newly established day
of remembrance on June 28 this year, the Ministry of Unification plans
to expand cooperation with local governments and relevant
organizations, including the Korean War Abductees’ Family Union, and
to carry out a range of initiatives to console the pain of wartime
abductees and their families.
The Ministry will continue to do its utmost to place the “protection
of its citizens” as a top priority and to work closely with the
international community to resolve the issues of wartime abductees,
detainees, and prisoners of war.
