SEOUL - South and North Korean visitors bade teary farewells to their family members Aug. 17, not knowing if they would ever see each other again Aug 18. The last day of the four-day exchange visits.
According to an agreement reached by Red Cross officials of the two Koreas, Aug. 17 reunions in Seoul and Pyongyang marked the last day of the three-day reunions that started Aug. 15, as they are set to leave each city early this morning to return home aboard a Korean Air passenger plane.
However, officials here said that they would negotiate with North Korean officials to enable the 100 North Koreans, currently in Seoul, to see their South Korean family members one last time early this morning, possibly in the lobby or a parking lot of the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel.
Even if they are given the chance, it would be a really short meeting because they are set to leave for the airport at 8 a.m., with the plane taking off for the North at around 10 a.m. The same Korean Airplane is scheduled to return to Seoul carrying the 100 South Koreans staying in Pyongyang.
However, the scenes of separation were tarnished by "political remarks," by some South Korean visitors and North Korean family members. For example, a 55-year-old North Korean daughter, in Pyongyang, forced her 75-year-old South Korean father to stand up and express gratitude to National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il for presenting a box of gifts.
During the three days of eventful reunions, the entire nation riveted their eyes on television screens to watch the three-day drama, which covered five decades of separation since the 1950-53 Korean War.
Though short, the families did their utmost to rebuild relationships torn apart by the war. The complicated family situation facing Lee Son-haeng, a 70-year-old South Korean man, was beyond imagination, as he went to Pyongyang along with his South Korean wife, Lee Song-ja, to meet his North Korean wife, Hong Gyong-ok. Lees South Korean wife was also one of the 100 south Koreans and met a North Korean son she gave birth to in a marriage with another man.
During a luncheon held at the Koryo Hotel, the South Korean wife and her son left their designated table to sit together with her present husband and his North Korean wife and sons.
To his wife s North Korean son, Lee said, "Dont worry too much about your mother. I will be a good servant to your mother."
Following reunions and a joint lunch, the South Korean visitors viewed "Chunhyangjon," a traditional Korean musical, and had dinner at Ongnyugwan, famous for naengmyon, or cold noodles. Meanwhile, North Korean visitors in Seoul toured the Changdok Palace and had dinner at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, hosted by Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu.