Will always remember and strive to cooperate with the international
community in a bid to bring detainees back home
Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho visits and consoles families of
abduction victims on the occasion of the Lunar New Year’s Day
(February 7)
On February 7, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho spent time consoling
the son of missionary Choe Chun-gil, who has been detained in North
Korea for 10 years since 2014, ahead of the Lunar New Year. They
shared a meal of Tteokguk, a traditional rice cake soup eaten during
the Lunar New Year holiday.
* In November of last year, the Ministry of Unification, for the
first time, was able to confirm the family relations of missionary
Choi Chun-gil. Subsequently, the ministry informed his son about his
father’s detention and provided compensation.
Referring to the language of forget-me-nots, the flower the Ministry
of Unification used to design a symbol that represents abductions,
detainees, and prisoners of war, Minister Kim encouraged the son not
to give up hope and to stay healthy until they confirm the well-being
of the detainees and bring them back home safely.
Moreover, the minister said that he will “continue to work towards
developing concrete plans to cooperate with international
organizations and countries concerned in a bid to bring the detainees,
including missionary Choe Chun-gil, back home as soon as possible.
In response, Mr. Choe, the son of missionary Choe Chun-gil,
expressed being “heartbroken because there is no way to find out
whether his father is even alive or not.” He also conveyed his
gratitude, saying, “Finding out about my father’s detention and
receiving comfort has been a great source of strength for me.”
He further expressed his intention to participate in the online
campaign titled “Blossom the Forget-Me-Nots” and expressed hope for
increased public interest in the issue of abductees.
*www.abductees.co.kr
