Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Korea Armistice Anniversary: Families Still Separated 60 Years After War

Ever since the Korean War sixty-three years ago, many Koreans still wait for a chance at reunion with their relatives living in the other side of the Korean peninsula. Those who have escaped North Korea to avoid being drafted in the North Korean army still wait in South Korea, signing up for a lottery that might give them a chance at reunion with their family still in North Korea. One eighty-eight year old woman, Hong Jong Soon, has been waiting all sixty-three years for her husband, never failing to sign up for the lottery run by the South Korean Red Cross. She tells her sons that she will wait for her husband, despite how old she will get, if she can see him just one more time.

Despite the Korean War having six decades ago, North and South Korea have still not signed a formal peace treaty. Because the tensions between the two sides have gotten stronger, North Korea is refusing to let its people and South Koreans to see each other. This scene plays reminiscent of the Cold War, between America and Soviet Russia. Berlin, split between the Allies and Russia with a wall, was forced to be divided into two separate lands, East and West Berlin, separating the people as well. The Berlin Wall kept families from seeing each other, where on the Russian side of the wall, anyone who got close to the wall would immediately be shot down. It's ironic that history keeps replaying itself though we study it in order to prevent same mistakes from happening. Luckily, this time, the South Korean Red Cross allows for some people to gain a chance at being reunited with their families, though for a short time. However, even this can be emotionally draining for other people, such as Jong Soon, who have also been waiting. It's upsetting that two the problems between two countries inevitably affect their people as well.

Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/24/korean-armistice-anniversary-families-separated_n_3643602.html?utm_hp_ref=world

1 comment:

  1. It's really sad to hear about families that have been separated from the war. I feel like you should've put a little bit more of you own commentary about the article. It would have been nice to hear what you had to say about this topic. I also suggest that you reread your commentary before you post it to make sure that everything sounds right.

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