Revealed in Separated Families Day Address
Once Again Calls for Dialogue with North Korea Following Meeting with Displaced Persons on the 3rd
Emphasizes "Active Civil Participation and the Crucial Role of the National Assembly and International Community"
President Lee Jaemyung has emphasized for two consecutive days that both South and North Korea must work together to resolve the issue of separated families. Ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, President Lee has repeatedly sent messages to North Korea highlighting the need to resume dialogue and exchanges.
On October 4, at the 3rd Separated Families Day ceremony held at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, President Lee delivered a congratulatory address through Im Woongsun, the Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office. He stated, "Currently, inter-Korean relations are blocked by a high wall of distrust, but the issue of separated families is the highest priority that both Koreas must address together," adding, "We will fundamentally resolve the issue of separated families through dialogue and cooperation." On the first day of the Chuseok holiday, October 3, President Lee also met with displaced persons and mentioned that humanitarian dialogue and exchanges with North Korea are necessary to resolve the separated families issue.
President Lee further stated, "Since the launch of this administration, we have been steadily working to ease inter-Korean tensions and restore trust to create the conditions for dialogue and exchanges." He continued, "We are diligently laying the groundwork for exchanges between separated families, such as producing video letters and conducting DNA tests for family verification, and we will strive to ensure that the second and third generations of separated families and the public can nurture hope."
To this end, he called for the continued interest and support of the National Assembly and the international community. President Lee said, "Active participation from the private sector and sustained attention from the National Assembly and the international community are essential to resolving the issue of separated families," adding, "The government will never abandon its mission to achieve peace."
President Lee went on to say, "When the South and North break free from the cycle of hostility and confrontation and walk the path of peaceful coexistence, we will be able to escape the fear of war and the pain of separation, and enjoy a safe and prosperous everyday life. We will do our utmost to ensure that the day of reunion comes as soon as possible, so that peace can be established on the Korean Peninsula and the sorrow of separated families is not passed down to future generations."
The Separated Families Day commemorative event was held under the theme "Light of Liberation, Illuminating the Path of Peace and Reunion" to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation. Separated Families Day was designated as a national memorial day in 2023 and is commemorated annually two days before Chuseok. The event included a joint memorial service, a creative dance performance expressing longing for hometowns, congratulatory addresses, awards for distinguished individuals, and the screening of interview videos with separated families.
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