Man Reunites with Family After 50 Years Since Parting at Seoul Station at Age 3

Police Utilize 'DNA Registration System'
Reunion Made Possible by Mother's DNA Registration Before Her Passing

A man in his 50s who was separated from his family at the age of 3 was reunited with his family after 50 years with the help of the police.

According to the Jungbu Police Station in Busan on the 11th, a reunion ceremony was held for Kang Mo (53), who lost his family in 1975, and his family. Kang, who was 3 years old in March 1975, was waiting for his mother with his father at Seoul Station at the time. However, in the crowded Seoul Station, Kang lost his father. Afterward, he lived in facilities such as orphanages in Busan and eventually wanted to find his family, whose whereabouts and survival status he did not even know.

A man who lost his family at the age of three found them after 50 years through the 'Genetic Registration System.' Photo by Jungbu Police Station, Busan

On February 1st, Kang visited the Jungbu Police Station and explained his situation. Although he did not know his real name, date of birth, or have any memories of his family, he consulted with the police about whether it was possible to find his separated family. The police recommended that Kang provide a DNA sample and requested a DNA test from the Child Rights Protection Agency. This was to utilize the 'DNA Registration System' operated by the National Police Agency since 2004 to find long-term missing persons. It was confirmed that Kang’s mother, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 86, had registered her DNA and family relations before her death. Last month, Kang received notification from the Child Rights Protection Agency that they had found a matching DNA.

The police conducted inquiries and were able to contact Kang’s older sister (54), who lives in Seoul. A police official stated, "Kang’s sister registered their mother’s DNA in advance, thinking that if their mother passed away, they might never be able to find their younger brother." Kang’s sister said, "I had appeared on broadcasts that help find separated families to look for my lost younger brother for a long time, but it was all in vain. I thought my brother was dead, so I never dreamed we would find him like this." Kang’s sister hurried down to Busan to meet her brother.

At the reunion ceremony arranged by the Jungbu Police Station, the Kang siblings shared stories about their lives and had a meaningful time together. Shim Tae-hwan, chief of the Busan Jungbu Police Station, said, "We sincerely congratulate the family reunion," and added, "We will continue to actively utilize DNA analysis to do our best in finding long-term missing persons."