About KWAFUHistory
History
Abridged Timeline of Korean War Abductees' Family Union (KWAFU) History Download
Foundation and Development
| 1951 | Aug. | | | The original Korean War Abductees' Family Association named "Association of Families of Persons Kidnapped at the time of June 25th Incident (KWAFA)" was organized and the first president Chang Gi-bin was elected at the foundation meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. | | | KWAFA was registered to the Bureau of Public Information of ROK | |
| 1953 | Aug. | | | The first general assembly of KWAFA was held and the first president, Yang Mae-ryun, was elected (KWAFA halted its activity in 1960) |
| 2000 | Nov. | | | Re-establishment of the KWAFA under its new name: The Korean War Abductees Family Union |
| 2001 | Sept. | | | Incorporation of KWAFU; certificate received from the Ministry of Unification, ROK |
| 2005 | Jun. | | | Launched Korean War Abduction Research Institute (KWARI) |
Discovery of The Abductees' Lists
| 2001 | Jan. | | | 『List of Displaced Civilians』made by Korean Red Cross (7,034 persons, 1956) 『Replies to the Inquiries on Welfare and Whereabouts of the Displaced Civilians』 made by the North Korean Red Cross (337 persons, 1957) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. | | | 『List of Seoul Municipality Victims』 made by the Bureau of Statistics (4,616 persons, 1950) | |
| 2002 | Jan. | | | 『Korean war abductees list』made by KWAFA (2,316 persons, 1951) |
| Feb. | | | 『List of the Korean War Abductees』made by ROK Government (82,959 persons, 1952) | |
| Mar. | | | 『List of the Abductees of June 25th Incidents』 made by Ministry of Home Affairs (17,940 persons, 1954) | |
| Aug. | | | 『Letters of Notification on Displaced Civilians』abductees' families submitted written documents to the KRC (7,034 persons, 1956) 『Letters of Inquiry on Displaced Civilians』also written in English so that it can be submitted to the International Red Cross |
|
| 2009 | Feb. | | | 『List of Persons Kidnapped at the Time of June 25th Incident』made by KWAFU (2,514 persons, 1951) |
| Jul. | | | Part of 『List of Displaced Civilians』made by ROK representatives of UNC Military Armistice Commission (11,700 persons, 1963), the whole list were obtained from Institute for Military History Compilation | |
| 2011 | Apr. | | | 『List of Persons Kidnapped at the Time of June 25th Incident』 made by KWAFA (2,527 people, 1951) |
| 2012 | Nov. | | | The oldest list of 654 victims of abductions committed by the North when they occupied Seoul area, obtained and arranged by CIA of USA |
Domestic Activities
| 2001 | Feb.~ | | | One-million-signatures campaign launched until the fate of the abductees ascertained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 22 | | | 1st forum held under the theme of "Reality and solutions of the Korean War Abductees" | |
| Jun. 25 | | | 1st Walking the Route of the Korean War Abduction from Seodaemun(West Gate) Prison to Gupabal held | |
| 2002 | Feb. | | | Attended the 4th National Conference hosted by the National Association for the Rescue of Kidnapped Japanese by North Korea and joined annually since then |
| Jun. 20 | | | Computerized Korean War Abductees list and launched online database search in the KWAFU homepage with the help of Professor Kim Myeong-ho of Gangneung-Wonju National University | |
| 2003 | Jun. 3~12 | | | Attended "International Conference to Urge the Repatriation of the Korean War Abductees and Enhancement of the Human Rights in North Korea" at the invitation of the U. S. Defense Forum Meetings with the U.S. Senators and congressmen and visited the UN Committee of Human Rights in New York to deliver the list of the Korean War Abductees |
| 2004 | Jun. 23, 24 | | | Korea-Japan Joint Conference entitled "Origin of the Abduction by North Korea and Now" was held in Seoul to urge the repatriation of the Korean War Abductees |
| 2005 | Apr. 28 | | | Donated the list of 82,959 Korean War Abductees to the U. S. Congress Library |
| 2006 | Apr. 9 | | | Started video-recording of testimonies of abductees' families: 158 cases completed as of 2013 |
| Apr. 27 | | | President Lee Mi-il made a testimony entitled "Ongoing Tragedy" at a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Sep. 28 | | | Published 『Korean War Abduction Sourcebook Vol. 1』 | |
| 2007 | Apr. 2 | | | Published 『KWARI Report Vol. 1』entitled "Is the legal concept of enforced or involuntary disappearances based on international law applicable to South Korean civilians abducted by North Korea during the Korean War?" |
| Jun. 21 | | | Hold demonstration urging legislation of a special law on the Korean War abduction | |
| Jul. 26 | | | KWAFU's president made an address at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., entitled "A Prerequisite for a Solution to the Korean Peninsula's Issue is the Recovery of Human Rights, An Appeal for a Solution of the Issue of Korean War Abductees" | |
| Dec. 6 | | | Published 『KWARI Report Vol.2』containing NPC speeches and newly found document of US Department of State | |
| 2008 | Apr. 30 | | | KWARI FORUM 'Korean War Abductes' Human Rights highlighted at the 60th anniversary of the National Founding', which continued monthly to 4th session with different job fields |
| 2009 | Feb. 27 | | | Held a Photo Exhibition(62 pieces) related to the 'Public Hearing for the legislation on Investigation of the Korean War Abduction by North Korea and Restoring honors of the victims |
| Oct. 8 | | | Published『Korean War Abduction Sourcebook Vol. 2』and hosted a seminar on the Military Armistice Conference of Korean War | |
| 2010 | Mar. 26 | | | 'Act on Investigating Abduction by North Korea during the Korean War and Restoring Honor of the Victims' promulgated |
| Jun. 7 | | | The 1st Remembrance Day of the Korean War Abductees; Made Mulmangcho (Forget-me-not) badge to remember the forgotten abductees | |
| Jun 15~30 | | | Held a Photo Exhibition for the promotion of reporting Korean War abductees and a wearing Forget-Me-Not badges campaign in front of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. | |
| Jun 21~25 | | | Joined a Photo Exhibition in commemoration of 60th anniversary of the Korean War and held a 'Wear Forget-Me-not Badges' campaign at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall | |
| Oct. 31~Nov. 2 | | | Organized "2nd Joint International Conference on Origins and Proliferation of the North Korean Abduction and Measures Resolve the Issue" hosted by the International Coalition for Resolution of the North Korean Abduction | |
| Nov. 30 | | | KWARI published series of research 1 『Change of Cease-fire System and the Korean War Abductees』Author Heo Man-ho (Professor Kyungpook Nat'l University) | |
| 2011 | Oct. 6 | | | Hosted KWAFU seminar at the NPC, Washington D.C. Theme: A Review of Korean War Armistice Conference ? South Korean Civilian Abduction by North Korea |
| Oct. 30 | | | Hold Campaign for wearing Mulmangcho (Forget-me-not) badges in four places in Seoul | |
| Dec. 13 | | | H.Res.376 <Calling for repatriation of POW/MIAs and abductees from Korean War> was adopted unanimously in House of Representatives with enthusiastic cooperation of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs | |
| 2012 | May 24 | | | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, had a press conference to deliver H.Res.376 to board members of KWAFU |
| Sep. 17 | | | Started to Submitted a Communication on an Alleged Enforce Involuntary Disappearance of Lee Seong-hwan, father of President Lee Mi-il, to WGEID | |
| Oct. 10 | | | Submitted three cases of Communication on Alleged Enforced Involuntary Disappearance: fathers of commissioners of KWAFU to WGEID | |
| Oct. 22 | | | Published English testimonies of the families of abductees『Ongoing Tragedy』 | |
| Oct. 29~Nov. 11 | | | Left on a trip to Europe for promoting Korean War Abduction issue, testifying on Korean War Abductions crimes : Visited ICRC and appealed that the 'displaced civilians' in the 'Welfare and Whereabouts Inquiry Form' should be considered as 'abductees' : Had a meeting with secretariat officers of WGEID on the communications submitted by email, and testified on the Korean War Abduction in the WGEID regular session meeting. : Had a meeting with Kang Kyung-wha, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights in the UN : Had a meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France : Had a meeting with Sir. Alton, member of the House of Lords, who introduced Korean War Abductees on his website : Had a meeting with officers in the Berlin Hohenschnhausen Memorial and visited 'Holocaust Memorial' in Germany |
|
| Dec. 10 | | | Published testimonies of the families of abductees『Disappeared People』 | |
| Dec. 31 | | | Published a Korean War abduction pictorial history book『People of No Return』 | |
| 2013 | Mar. 7 | | | Released newly found Abductees List made by CIA, USA and this story ran on the Chosun Daily |
| Mar. 10~16 | | | Left on a business trip to Geneva. Had a meeting with the Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman |
|
| Mar. 11 | | | KWARI and UN Watch co-hosted a seminar on "Civilian Abduction during the Korean War as a War Crime: Who can be held Accountable?" in the United Nations Office at Geneva as a parallel event during the HRC's regular session. | |
| Jul. 25~Dec. 23 | | | 30 cases of Video-recording of testimonies completed. | |
| Aug. 16 | | | UN COI officers visited and interviewed 2 North Korean defectors whose fathers are abducted during the Korean War | |
| Aug. 23 | | | Attended the public hearing of UN COI in the New Millennium Hall of Yonsei University (President Lee Mi-il made an opening comment and 4 KWAFU members made testimonies.) | |
| Oct. 24 | | | Hosted 2013 Seoul International Symposium "International Cooperation as the Means toward Solving Civilian Abductions" in the Korea Press Foundation Bldg. sponsored by National Committee on Investigating Abductions during the Korean War; Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea featuring presentation of a researcher from the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) of Poland and the Chairman of National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea. |
|
| Nov. 6~21 18 19 |
| | Left on a business trip to Geneva and Hague Had a meeting with Ms. Siobhan Hobbs, UN COI investigator on enforced disappearances by DPRK and requested inclusion of the wartime civilian abduction issue in the final report of COI and positive response was provided Submitted 35 cases of communication form and requested some modification on details in the notification letter of transmission written by WGEID Submitted a petition to the International Criminal Court in Hague. Had a meeting with Mr. Song Sang-hyun, the President of ICC, regarding the wartime civilian abduction issue to be regarded as a form of continuing crime. |
|
| 2014 | Mar. 3 | | | Published a revised edition of Korean War abduction pictorial history book『People of No Return』 |
| Mar. 17 | | | President of KWAFU Ms. Lee Mi-il testified in the parallel event of 25th Session of UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva | |
| Mar. 18 | | | Additional 15 communications submitted in a meeting with WGEID persons; 150 cases submitted in total as of Oct. 2017 | |
| Mar. 20 | | | Attended 'Expert Meeting' in TMC Asser Institute in Hague moderated by Michael Kirby, Chair of the UN COI on human rights in the DPRK for probable further actions taken following the release of the report by the UN COI on NK. | |
| Mar. 21 | | | Attended Public Lecture in Gresham College in London where a leagal adviser of KWAFU, Tae-hoon Kim expressed the importance of wartime abduction crime by NK. | |
| Apr. 4 | | | An article about South Korean civilian abductions during the Korean War printed in Pamieci. Pl, IPN(Institute of National Remembrance ? Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation) monthly magazine by Mr. Marek Handerek. | |
| Apr. 9 | | | WGEID received replies from DPRK on the communications submitted by KWAFU. | |
| Apr. 15 | | | An original document of Declaration by KWAFA written in English on Mar. 11, 1965 and delivered to W.G.Graham, then-British Ambassador to Korea was found from TNA(The National Archives of UK) by Mr. Marek Handerek, a researcher of IPN and a photocopy of it was received. | |
| Aug. 25~29 | | | Visited IPN(Institute of National Remembrance) in Poland and discussed signing an M.O.U. for sharing of abduction of North Korea related materials and joint research | |
| Nov. 1 | | | 2014 Running event held "Wishing for Unification of Korean Peninsula and rescue Korean War abductees | |
| Nov. 20 | | | Hope of KWAFU members having opportunities to testify at UN General Assembly on NK abduction crime as soon as possible was delivered to Mr. Guillaume Pfeiffle, human rights officer of OHCHR on his visit to Seoul | |
| Dec. 31 | | | 『Korean War Abduction Sourcebook 3』published. | |
| 2015 | Feb. 17~18 | | | Attended the conference in Washington, DC 'North Korean Human Rights: The Road Ahead' held commemorating the one year anniversary of the UN COI report and President Lee, Mi-il made a proposition to bring North Korean leader to ICC and requested to have opportunities to testify at UN general assembly |
| Sep. 18 | | | Held 2015 worshiping ceremony in Imjingak, Paju | |
| Oct. 21~25 | | | Attended International Mini-Symposium on 'Foreigner Abductions by the DPRK and Responses from International Community' in Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Oct. 29 | | | Attended a meeting with Doctor Jin Juhyeon from US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on identifying remains of abductees held by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. | |
| Nov. 29~Dec. 1 | | | Held International Seminar 'Civilian Protection in the Wartime and Resolution of Civilian Abduction during the Korean War' featuring human rights cases of Kosovo, Guatemala, Poland and Cambodia presented in Seoul Global Center | |
| 2016 | Jan. 29 | | | KWARI Won 2015 commendation by R.O.K. President for good keeping of national archives |
| Oct. 11 | | | Hosted a preview event of a documentary film 'Dream of a Forget-Me-Not' on stories of families of abductees in Daehan Cinema. | |
| Oct. 20 | | | Attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the National Memorial for Korean War Abductees and president Lee, Mi-Il delivered a congratulatory speech. | |
| Nov. 11 | | | Attended Seoul Dialog for Human Rights hosted by Yonsei Human Liberty Center and President Lee, Mi-il made a testimony on the NK abduction. | |
| Dec. 30 | | | 『Korean War Abduction Sourcebook 4』published. | |
| 2017 | Feb. 7 | | | Attended Joint Media Briefing on the issues of North Korean abductions and enforced disappearance in congruence with the WGEID visit and President Lee Mi-il made a remark on the Korean War civilian abductions. |
| May | | | 『Fact-finding Report on Abductions during the Korean War』published by the Committee of ROK Government on Fact-Finding of Korean War Abductions and the Restoration of the Reputation of the Victims. | |
| Jun. 28 | | | Held the 6th Remembrance Day of the Korean War abductees | |
| Sep. 28 | | | Held the 2017 KWARI Forum "The Korean War and the Distinctiveness of the Wartime Abduction" | |
| Nov. 29 | | | Opening ceremony of the National Memorial for Korean War Abductees with over 700 people in attendance and president Lee, Mi-Il delivered a congratulatory speech." | |
| Dec. 5 | | | Held a KWAFU international seminar 'The Fundamental Solution of Civilian abduction Crimes by North Korea' at international conference room of Seoul Global Center(9th Fl.) with presentations of Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu, Nishioka Tsutomu and Ms. Kim, Miyoung | |
| 2018 | Feb. 9 | | | Gave a tour of the National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War to Signe Poulsen, the head of UN OHCHR(Seoul). |
| Feb. 21 | | | Ran a full page advertorial on Chosun Daily (page A20) with a title, 'It's unfair to us, who worked to establish and maintain this country but suffered more and longer. The special law on compensation and support for victims of the Korean War abduction by North Korea should be established to the level of compensation for the victims of May 18 movement. | |
| Feb. 26 | | | An official letter sent demanding the establishment of a compensation law for Korean War abductees to President Moon, members of the National Assembly, related ministers and the head of the National Human Rights Commission of ROK. | |
| Mar. 28 | | | Held a press conference demanding Korean War abductees issue to be included in the agenda of Inter-Korean Summit and making public of Korean War Crime case no. 141 regarding the wrongful killing of 2,000 South Korean civilians in South Pyeong-An district by the North Korean soldiers(At the fountain of the Blue House) | |
| | | |||
| Apr. 5~25 | | | One-person relay demonstration demanding the Korean War abductees issue to be dealt with at Inter-Korean Summit on April 27 done simultaneously at the fountain of the Blue House and the back gate of the integrated government building | |
| Apr. 25 | | | Held a press conference prompting the inclusion of Korean War abductees issue in the agenda of Inter-Korean Summit and releasing the letter of petition sent to the U.S. president Donald Trump | |
| Apr, 26 | | | Sent a letter of petition to the U.S. president Donald Trump saying the Korean War had stopped with truce without calling the North Korea to the account for its abduction crimes of hundreds of thousands of innocent South Korean civilians and KWAFU asked President Moon to bring up the Korean War abductees issue at the Inter-Korean Summit only to be rejected. Also it says that Moon administration is working to have a peace agreement signed to put and end to the Korean War but the real and sustainable peace on the peninsula is not possible without resolution of Korean War abductees issue and therefore we kindly ask the president Trump to raise our issue of 100,000 South Korean wartime abduction victims at the coming US-NK Summit. | |
| May. 16 | | | Sent a statement to the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton demanding USA to call on the North Korea to resolve the Korean War abductees issue at the US-NK Summit. | |
| May 25 | | | Held a press conference for the Seoul foreign correspondents prompting the Korean War abductees issue to be raised at US-NK Summit on 19th floor of Seoul Press Center | |
| May 28 | | | Sent a statement and a letter of public inquiries to President Moon refuting strongly his biased commitment to the peace and end of the Korean War on the peninsula at the South-North summit disregarding the Korean War abduction by North Korea. | |
| May 29 | | | Ran a full page advertorial on Munhwa-Ilbo (page of A15) with a title of "Do not cover up the existence of the Korean War abduction victims and their earnest wishes with the face peace show of Moon administration on the Korean peninsula! One of he pre-requirement of the real peace is to resolve the Korean War abduction issue." | |
| June 7 | | | Held a 'Calling Names of the Korean War abductees, South Korean POWs and internees in North Korea' event in front of U.S. Embassy in Seoul | |
| June 8 | | | Held a seminar 'Global cooperation of 13 countries for the resolution of illegal kidnapping by North Korea and counter measures' in which a congratulatory speech was delivered by Kim Seok-woo, a former vice minister of Unification, the 1st session was chaired by professor Lee Young-jo, presentations were made by Nishioka Tsutomu, president of NARKN, professor Tomoharu Ebihara, Lee Heemun, president of Global Network, Kim Heungkwang, president of NK Intellectual Solidarity and Shin Heesuk, researcher of TJWG and also testimonies were given by Park Myeongja, a kidnapping escapee, Banjong Panchoi, NK abduction victim family, Hwang Incheol, Kal Kidnapping victims family, Kim Namju, Korean War abduction victim family. | |
| June 11 | | | Filming President Mi-il Lee and Hwang Incheol on the North Korean Abduction crimes done by AFP with the cooperation of UN OHCHR Seoul at UN OHCHR Seoul office and KWAFU office as well. | |
| June 12 | | | One-person relay demonstration calling for the Korean War abductees issue to be included in the US-NK Summit in front of the USA Embassy in Seoul. Received a reply from the Ministry of Unification regarding the public from KWAFU inquiries to the President Moon. |
|
| June 19 | | | Joined in a memorial event to mark the first anniversary of the death of Otto Warmbier laying flowers to the deceased and marching down the street of Jamsu Bridge | |
| June 26 | | | Sent an official document of objection to the answer of the ministry of unification to the public inquiries of KWAFU. Sent an official letter to the Ministry of Unification demanding the inclusion of the Korean War abductees in its online homepage |
|
| June 28 | | | Hold the 7th Remembrance day of the Korean War Abduction Victims event including laying flowers, music concerts and visit of National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War with about 300 victim families in attenddance. | |
| July 2 | | | Staff of the US embassy to Korea visited KWAFU office to hear opinions from the Korean War abductees' families on the declaration of the end of the Korean War and economic sanctions on North Korea. | |
| July 14 | | | VON production crew visitied to film a Youtube video regarding the Korean War abduction and ending of the Korean War. | |
| July 26 | | | 35 students with their parents visited the National Memorial for Abductees as part of the education program on the wartime abduction. | |
| July 31 | | | Attended the 2018 HUFS International Summer Session "North Korean Human Rights: Diplomacy, Documentation and Advocacy" moderated by Greg Scarlatoiu, the Presidnet of HRNK | |
| Aug. 14 | | | Filed a suit against Song Gapseok, an assemblyman for his proposition to amend the abduction victim law to replace the term 'abductee' with 'missing person'. | |
| Aug. 24 | | | Hold the 1st rally against Democratic Party of Korea for attempting concealment of 100,000 Korean War abduction victims in front of their office in Yeouido after a press conference in Jeongnonkwan hall of the National Assembly Members' Office Building | |
| Aug. 31 | | | Hold the 2nd rally against Democratic Party of Korea for attempting concealment of Korean War abduction victims and Yoon Byungjo, the son of a Korean War abductee had his hair shaved in a show of protest. Song Gapseok, the chief author of the amendment to replace 'abductee' with 'missing person' in the abduction related law showed no intention of withdrawing the bill, while Park Kwang-on, one of the other 12 co-authors of the amendment, expressed his opinion to withdraw the amendment bill individually. | |
| Sep. 4, 6 | | | Visited the office of co-authors of the amendment of abduction related law as below and delivered a message of protest along with reference material: Kwon Chilseung, Kim Byungkwan, Park Jeong, Park Hongkeun, Shin Kyungmin, Shim Jaekwon, Ahn Gyubaik, Lee Hoon, Jeong Jaeho, Lee Soohyuk. All of them showed opinions to withdraw the amendment bill except Lee Soohyuk and Shim Jaekwon. | |
| Sept. 5 | | | Ran an ad for the 3rd Rally against Song Gapseok and 11 other members of the Democratic Party of Korea for the amendment bill to replace the term 'abductee' with 'missing person' in the abduction related law in Chosun Daily and MunhwaIlbo newspaper. | |
| Sept. 7 | | | Hold the 3rd Rally against Song Gapseok and 11 other members of the Democratic Party of Korea for the amendment bill to replace the term 'abductee' with 'missing person' in the abduction related law. | |
| Sept. 10, 11 | | | All of the 12 assemblymen who proposed the amendment to replace 'abductee' with 'missing person' withdrew the bill without any apology or prior notice. | |
| Sept. 12 | | | Held a press conference demanding resignation of Song Gapseok and an apology from the party chairman, Lee Haechan for the amendment of abduction law to replace the term 'abductee' with 'missing person' and delivered the statement to Lee Haechan. President Mi-il Lee spoke in the policy forum to urge for the return of the Korean War Abductees hosted by Hong Munpyo, an assemblyman |
|
| Sept. 18 | | | President Mi-il Lee spoke in the rally against the inter-Korean peace talks without resolving North Korean human rights and abduction issues hosted by a conservative organization in front of Dongdaemun Design Plaza where press center set up for the news coverage of the 2018 inter-korean summit Pyeongyang. | |
| Oct. 26 | | | Filed a suit against Kim Jong-un under the article 9, crimes against humanity and article 10, war crimes against civilians, national law of the extraterritorial application of Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court with the help of Do Taewoo, a lawyer. | |
| Oct. 27 | | | Participated in the rally for the resignation of President Moon held at Daehanmun of Deoksoo palace and there were the reading of the papers filed out against Kim Jong-un for crimes against humanity and war crimes against civilians by Do Taewoo, the lawyer who wrote it for KWAFU | |
| N0v. 5 | | | 120 people attended an event for the Korean War abductees' families hosted by the ministry of unification in appreciation of their donation of abductees' articles. | |
| Nov. 17 | | | Araki Gazhiro, President of Japan Missing Persons' Family Association and 16 of its members visited the National Memorial for Korean War Abductees on their first day of 3-day tour of Korea and had a meeting with KWAFU. TBS, Japan news media accompanied. | |
| Nov. 29 | | | Held a celebration of the first anniversary of the National Memorial for Korean War Abductees with memers and staff. | |
| Dec. 11 | | | Filed a suit against President Moon for dereliction of duty for not taking any action to settle the Korean War abduction issue after a press conference regarding it at Chongwadae at 2 pm. | |
| Dec. 12 | | | Attended the National Memorial for Korean War Abductees seminar in celebration of its 1st anniversary held at Center for Unified Korean Future in Yeoncheon and made suggestions to do a research and have a library to further the exhibition services. | |
| Dec. 28~Jan. 10, 2019 | | | KWAFU began rally against the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in front of the museum as materials on the Korean War abduction excluded in their permanent exhibition, distorting and covering up the crimes of Korean War Abduction by North Korea. Education was accompanied by KWAFU through speeches and exhibitions of videos and materials on wartime abduction issues for museum staff and citizens. | |
| Dec. 31 | | | KWAFU Published "Studies on the International Special Tribunal for the Handling of the South Korean Civilian Abduction during the Korean War" written by Kang Kyung-mo: Attorney of Washington, D.C. (J.D.), Kim Mi-young: Director of Transitional Justice (J.D. LL.M.), Park Jin-ha: International Development Specialist at the UNDP Headquarters | |
| 2019 | Jan. 2~10 | | | Rally against The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in the previous year continued to denounce cover-up and distortion of wartime abduction. In response to the official request for an interview with the director on January 3, an interview was made with the exhibition manager at 17:00 on January 10 instead of the director. Below are three requirements delivered by KWAFU and answers by the museum hyphenated. 1. Preparation of exhibition space related to war abductees - Will be reflected at the reorganization of the museum in 2019 2. Visit of the National Memorial for abductees during the Korean War in Imjingak ? Will visit it in January 3. Holding a special exhibition for war abductees around June 25 ? Difficulty expected for a new exhibition due to many requests for a special exhibition. (KWAFU asked to review it positively as there is no difficulty in producing new exhibits because content on the war abduction issues already exists.) # received collection of exhibits from the Museum and presented 「Fact-finding Report on Abductions during the Korean War」published by the South Korean government in 2017 and the 「Source book on the Korean War Abduction」 Vol. 1~4 published by the Korean War Abductions Research Institute to the museum. |
| Jan. 2 | | | Interviewed with Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung. and asked the government to deliver "Fact-finding Report on Abductions during the Korean War" published by the government in 2017 and the Korean War Crime Case No. 141 (KWC#141) to Kim Jong-un of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea. |
|
| Feb. 18 | | | The Korean Journalists Association visited the family union's office and conducted an interview. | |
| Feb, 20 | | | Al Jazeera Broadcasting Company of the Middle East Visited Family Union's office to Conduct Interviews. | |
| Feb. 21 | | | Yeo Myung, Seoul Metropolitan Council member visited to gather opinions on welfare-related needs of family members and awarded commendations to directors. | |
| Mar. 7 | | | 2019 General Assembly of Representatives was held. Business report, balance of payments report, business plan, budget bill were passed. |
|
| Mar. 22 | | | Director Hong Yang-hee and employees of the memorial hall visited to hold a briefing session on the 2019 project of the memorial hall. The materials and design of the monument engraved with the names of the government-certified abductees in the Majungddeul yard / Publication of the Memorial Book / The education plan will be held 14 times a year linked to the exhibition of the Memorial. |
|
| Apr. 4 | | | Visited Shim Jae-chul, a member of parliament of the Liberty Korea Party. As a result of requesting to propose a resolution calling for the resolution of the war abductees committed by North to the Foreign Affairs and Unification Standing Committee Korea, Kim Jae-kyung, a member of parliament was introduced. |
|
| Apr. 9 | | | As a result of visiting Kim Jae-kyung, a member of parliament in connection with the motion for a resolution, he accepted the proposal. | |
| Apr. 12 | | | In connection with the accusation of dereliction of duty against the President Moon Jae In, kwafu appeared with lawyer Do Tae-woo at the Central District Prosecutors' Office to submit and state additional materials related to the complaint against Kim Jong-un (CIA documents, KWC documents, government-related documents, etc.) | |
| Apr. 24 | | | President Lee Mi-il met with Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, with directors Kim Nam-joo, Kim Jae-jo, Seo Jeong-sik, Yu Jae-min, Lee Kyung-chan, Lee Sang-il, Lee Sung-ui, Lee Tae-young, Jeon Tae-hee, and Choi Chang-rim. | |
| Jul. 3 | | | ' resolution calling for the resolution of abduction crimes against civilians in the Korean War by North Korea was presented to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification of the National Assembly jointly initiated by Kim Jae-kyung. Jointly proposed lawmakers: Kim Jae-kyung, Kim Moo-sung, Kim Young-woo, Yoo Ki-joon, Shim Jae-chul, Jung Yang-seok, Lee Jung-hyun, Jung Jin-seok, Kang Seok-ho, Cho Hoon-yeon, Kim Jung-jae, Kwon Seong-dong, Joo Ho-young, Won Yoo-chul, Yoon Sang-hyun |
|
| Jun. 24 | | | Held a rally to urge the National Assembly to pass a resolution calling for the resolution of abduction crimes against civilians in the Korean War by North Korea, which has been neglected in the National Assembly. (hosted by National Assembly members Shim Jae-chul and Kim Jae-kyung) | |
| Jun. 25 | | | A rally against North Korea's Korean War Abduction Crimes catchphrasing "Let's End Kim Jong-un" and "Let's Kick Kim Moon Jae In Out" was held. Condemnation speech, resolution reading, street march were conducted and the resolution was received by Blue House. |
|
| Jun. 28 | | | The 8th Korean abductees' remembrance day was held in front of the memorial hall. Lee Eon-joo, a member of the National Assembly, gave a speech of encouragement |
|
| Jul. 22 | | | Visited the president's office and affiliated members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification of the National Assembly. To lawmakers who have not responded to the official letter asking whether they agree to the resolution, KWAFU delivered the statement, "The prerequisite for the end of the Korean War and peace in the Korean peninsula is to resolve the Korean War abduction issue," and asked for their cooperation. |
|
| Jul. 26 | | | President Lee Mi-il's contribution to the Munhwa Ilbo's public opinion section, "The 66th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice... Wartime Abduction crimes by the North Korea should not be forgotten" was posted. | |
| Sep. 26 | | | Il-yo Seoul Weekly posted articles "I want to see the Koreans buried along the Daedong River." "North Korea, which kidnapped 100,000 people, is a clear criminal group." "If you don't give the North one won, North Korea will collapse." |
|
| Sep. 27 | | | An extraordinary general meeting of representatives was held. Re-confidence for directors collectively resigned - Kim Young-hee resigne and Park Hye-ja elected as director Composition of Executive Committee Members- Kim Ho-gil, Park Yi-il, Park Pil-ja, Yoon Byung-jo, Choi Soo-gil, Choi In-sook, and Hong Neung-ja Park Hye-ja, Kim Ho-gil were elected in the by-election. |
|
| Sep. 28 | | | Conducted a tour of the memorial hall ? Citizens including Truth Forum member students of Seoul National University were invited to the memorial hall for on-site education on the war abduction. | |
| Oct. 3 | | | Participated in the rally of 'Let's Protect Republic of Korea' In front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun Square | |
| Oct. 30 | | | Munhwa Ilbo says, "In an International Resolution Conference for Abduction Victims, victim families discuss legal action." | |
| Oct. 31 | | | Chosun Ilbo says, 'With International Resolution Conference on Abduction and Detention of North Korea, attention is focusing on whether high-ranking officials and President Moon to meet with victim families.' | |
| Nov. 29 | | | Participated in the 2nd anniversary of the opening of the memorial hall. Participating KWAFU members visited the reorganized exhibition hall and received memorial books. |
|
| Dec. 30 | | | Produced and uploaded abductee family testimony videos in English/Japanese. In order to promote the war abduction cases at home and abroad, 34 videos of the abduction family were edited in about 5 minutes, translated into English and Japanese, and posted on the YouTube site. |
|
| 2020 | Jan. 29 | | | Met with Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul at the Seoul Government Complex. President Lee Mi-il and three other directors attending asked him to resolve the war abductees issue. |
| Feb. 3~7 | | | A photo exhibition on war abduction was held on the 1st floor of the National Assembly Hall under the supervision of Jeon Hee-kyung of the Liberty Korea Party for the first time in 11 years following February 2009. | |
| Jun. 17~30 | | | A photo exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War abduction was held in the square next to the Peace Bell Tower in Imjingak, Paju. 98 photographic materials are on display. | |
| Jun. 23 | | | Attended a meeting hosted by Kim Jong-in, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the Future United Party, and submitted a proposal regarding the resolution of war abduction. President Lee Mi-il and seven other directors attended at the request of Chairman Kim Jong-in in the conference room of the Future United Party of the National Assembly. | |
| Aug. 27 | | | In an interview with VOA reporter Kim Hyung-jin, president Lee Mi-il expressed her position on the June 30 letter released by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. | |
| Oct. 31~Nov. 16 | | | Photo Exhibition "People of No Return" Held in 70 Years of War Abduction. A total of 98 photographic materials are exhibited at Imjingak Pavilion in Paju | |
| Jun. 16 | | | Held a press conference in front of Truth and Reconciliation Commission office building urging Moon Jae In government to apologize and excavate the remains of the abductees as no perpetrator is held responsible for the 100,000 abductees illegally kidnapped by the North Korean regime during the Korean War. Also, the South Korean government cannot avoid secondary responsibility because it has no intention of solving the wartime abduction problem. After filing the application for truth-finding, KWAFU interviewed the Chairman Chung Geun-sik and urged to make a decision to find out the truth about the perpetrator and hold them responsibility. | |
| Sep. 7 | | | A memorial service and for the victims of abductees was held during the Chuseok holiday and families of abductees and citizens attended who visited the memorial hall. Unification Minister Lee In-young visited the site of the memorial event, paying tribute and offering flowers. |
|
| Sep. 15 | | | Director Lee Sung-eui attended the seminar "50 Years, Past, Present and Future of Inter-Korean Agreements on Separated Families" held by the Mulmangcho Research Institute as a debater. | |
| Nov. 10 | | | Met Colin Timmerman and his party, an aide to U.S. Representative Kim Young, who visited Korea. Delivered them data and requirements related to the war abduction issue. | |
| Dec. 6 | | | Held an open press conference on President Moon Jae-in's declaration of the end of the war and delivered a questionnaire to the Blue House. | |
| Dec. 15 | | | As the special exhibition hall of the abductees' memorial hall was reorganized under the theme of "Art, go through war," directors and representatives of KWAFU attended and Choi Young-jae (a children's poet) received a ministerial commendation as a contributor to the special exhibition. | |
| Dec. 31 | | | In order to promote the war abduction case at home and abroad, 40 videos of the abduction family were edited in about five minutes, translated into English, Japanese, and Chinese, and posted on the YouTube site | |
| 2022 | Jan. 1 | | | Having difficulties to open the annual offline photo exhibition due to Covid-19, the cyber memorial hall 'www.돌아오지못한사람들.kr' was produced instead and opened in 2021 |
| Mar. 10~20 | | | The regular general meeting was held in writing by mail to representatives including resolutions following last year due to Wuhan pneumonia. | |
| May 31 | | | Lee Seong-eui, director of KWAFU, attended a 'Joint briefing on North Korea's Enforced Disappearance Crime' jointly hosted by the U.N. Human Rights Office, the Dutch Embassy in Seoul, and the British Embassy in Seoul, making announcement under the title of "Korean War Abduction and Compensation for Damage" | |
| Jun. 9 | | | President Lee Mi-il, director Lee Kyung-chan, Kim Jae-jo, Park Hye-ja, and Lee Ok-nam, member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission met with Choi Jae-hyung, the People's Power. They asked him to make efforts to solve the war abductees problem, explaining the current status of the problem and inviting to the Remembrance Day event. Visited Tae Young-ho, People's Power to invite the Remembrance Day event and discuss pending issues on the war abductees problem. |
|
| Jun. 13 | | | Chung Kyung-hee, a member of National Assembly hosted the photo exhibition "Korean War caused by Kim Il-sung" to announce the history of the Korean War overturned by the left in the lobby of the National Assembly building, to which KWAFU sent materials related to Korean War abduction in advance. President Lee Mi-il was invited to the opening ceremony and attended with executives of KWAFU. |
|
| Jun. 28 | | | The Korean War Abduction Victims' Remembrance Day, which was not held for two years due to COVID-19, was held for the ninth time in front of the Korean War Abduction Memorial Hall. About 340 members attended the ceremony, including Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, People's Power Choi Jae-hyung and Tae Young-ho, Chung Geun-sik, chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Kim Seok-woo, chairman of the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, delivering commemorative speeches. The ceremony went on with offering flowers, concerts, and resolution readings and so on. | |
| Jul. 8 | | | Kim Young-san, the new director of the National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War, visited KWAFU's office. | |
| Jul. 15 | | | Lee Hoon-ki, the external cooperation officer of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, visited and discussed the progress and solutions including compensation issues with president Lee Mi-il. | |
| Sep. 7 | | | The opening ceremony of a special exhibition 'My Grandfather's Story' at the National Memorial for abductees during the Korean War was attended by Lee Seong-eui, director of KWAFU. | |
| Sep, 2 | | | In the women's interview section of Free Asia Broadcasting, president Lee Mi-il said, "The Korean government should actively identify responsibility and compensate for wartime abduction." | |
| Sep. 10 | | | During the Chuseok holiday, a memorial service was held for the victims of Korean War abductees at the national memorial for abductees during the Korean War. A memorial table and chrysanthemums for offerings were prepared and many of the victim families and visitors of the memorial hall attended the event. | |
| Oct. 3 | | | Kim Bok-nam, president Lee Mi-il's mother, who supported the family union both materially and emotionally, passed away. The family members paid their respects to the funeral and director Lee Seong-eui read a memorial speech. |
|
| Nov. 16 | | | President Yoon Suk Yeol urges the Immediate release of detainees and abductees of North Korea... The leaders of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan declared cooperation between the three countries of the Phnom Penh Statement, which was adopted for the first time jointly by the leaders of the three countries (Segye Ilbo) | |
| Nov. 22 | | | The 'Parliamentary Debate on Compensation for Korean War Victims' organized by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the the conference room of the National Assembly Hall was attended by KWAFU members. | |
| Nov. 24 | | | The Truth and Reconciliation Commission made a decision to find out the truth about the abduction of civilians during the Korean War and recommended the state to apologize. (Chosun Ilbo) In a meeting with Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, president Lee Mi-il requested the establishment of a department dedicated to abductees. |
|
| Nov. 29 | | | attended a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Korean War abductees' memorial hall. | |
| Dec. 1 | | | Met with secretaries of lawmakers Koo Ja-geun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Kim Yong-pan on the promotion of compensation legislation. | |
| Dec. 31 | | | 137 video testimonies about the war abduction were completed in English, Chinese, and Japanese from 2019 to 2022. | |
| 2023 | Jan. 17 | | | At 2 p.m., Kim Kwang-dong, chairman and Lee Ok-nam of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, visited. Case 2 Ma-4696, 68 hostile forces (war abduction) cases (1) including Lee Dong-jin were decided to find out the truth.. |
| Feb. 13 | | | Kim Young-san, the director of the National Memorial for abductees during the Korean War, visited to greet the New Year and exchange opinions on the New Year's business plan with KWAFU president. | |
| Mar. 23 | | | The 2023 general meeting was held, where president Lee Mi-il resigned and director Lee Sung-eui was elected as a new president. Family union's office was to be relocated to the Paju Memorial Hall on April 25. | |
| Apr. 12 | | | First Lady Kim Gun-hee of the President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War in the afternoon and met with the families of abductees and detainees during and after the war. Honorary Chairman Lee Mi-il, Chairman Lee Sung-eui, Director Lee Sang-il, and Ha Young-nam attended the plenary session. The proposal of the family union was delivered directly to Baek Tae-hyun, secretary for unification. It is confirmed that Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Unification has been promoted to the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Office, but the department dedicated to abductees are not yet included. The proposal was delivered to Park Hyung-il, the director of the department. The proposal includes first, the establishment of a department dedicated to abductees, and second, filing a complaint with the International Criminal Court against the North Korean regime for war abduction crimes, etc. | |
International Activities
| 2002 | Feb. | | | Attended the 4th National Conference hosted by the National Association for the Rescue of Kidnapped Japanese by North Korea and joined annually since then |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Jun. 3~12 | | | Attended "International Conference to Urge the Repatriation of the Korean War Abductees and Enhancement of the Human Rights in North Korea" at the invitation of the U. S. Defense Forum Meetings with the U.S. Senators and congressmen and visited the UN Committee of Human Rights in New York to deliver the list of the Korean War Abductees |
| 2004 | Jun. 23, 24 | | | Korea-Japan Joint Conference entitled "Origin of the Abduction by North Korea and Now" was held in Seoul to urge the repatriation of the Korean War Abductees |
| 2005 | Apr. 28 | | | Donated the list of 82,959 Korean War Abductees to the U. S. Congress Library |
| 2006 | Apr. 27 | | | President Lee Mi-il made a testimony entitled "Ongoing Tragedy" at a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2007 | Apr. 2 | | | Published 『KWARI Report Vol. 1』entitled "Is the legal concept of enforced or involuntary disappearances based on international law applicable to South Korean civilians abducted by North Korea during the Korean War?" |
| Jul. 26 | | | KWAFU's president made an address at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., entitled "A Prerequisite for a Solution to the Korean Peninsula's Issue is the Recovery of Human Rights, An Appeal for a Solution of the Issue of Korean War Abductees" | |
| 2010 | Oct. 31~Nov. 2 | | | Organized "2nd Joint International Conference on Origins and Proliferation of the North Korean Abduction and Measures Resolve the Issue" hosted by the International Coalition for Resolution of the North Korean Abduction |
| 2011 | Oct. 6 | | | Hosted KWAFU seminar at the NPC, Washington D.C. Theme: A Review of Korean War Armistice Conference ? South Korean Civilian Abduction by North Korea |
| Dec, 13 | | | H.Res.376 <Calling for repatriation of POW/MIAs and abductees from Korean War> was adopted unanimously in House of Representatives with enthusiastic cooperation of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs | |
| 2012 | May 24 | | | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, had a press conference to deliver H.Res.376 to board members of KWAFU in Seoul |
| Sep. 17 | | | Started to Submit Communication on an Alleged Enforced Involuntary Disappearance to WGEID | |
| Oct. 22 | | | Published English testimonies of the families of abductees『Ongoing Tragedy』 | |
| | | |||
| Oct. 29~Nov. 11 | | | Left on a trip to Europe for promoting Korean War Abduction issue, testifying on Korean War Abductions crimes br />
: Visited ICRC and appealed that the 'displaced civilians' in the 'Welfare and Whereabouts Inquiry Form' should be considered as 'abductees' : Had a meeting with secretariat officers of WGEID on the communications submitted by email, and testified on the Korean War Abduction in the WGEID regular session meeting. : Had a meeting with Kang Kyung-wha, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights in the UN : Had a meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France : Had a meeting with Sir. Alton, member of the House of Lords, who introduced Korean War Abductees on his website : Had a meeting with officers in the Berlin Hohenschnhausen Memorial and visited 'Holocaust Memorial' in Germany |
|
| Dec. 31 | | | Published a Korean War abduction pictorial history book『People of No Return』 | |
| 2013 | Mar. 11 | | | KWARI and UN Watch co-hosted a seminar on "Civilian Abduction during the Korean War as a War Crime: Who can be held Accountable?" in the United Nations Office at Geneva as a parallel event during the HRC's regular session. |
| Aug. 16 | | | UN COI officers visited and interviewed 2 North Korean defectors whose fathers are abducted during the Korean War | |
| Aug. 23 | | | Attended the public hearing of UN COI in the New Millennium Hall of Yonsei University President Lee Mi-il made an opening comment and 3 KWAFU members and 1 escapee after abduction made testimonies. |
|
| Oct. 24 | | | Hosted 2013 Seoul International Symposium "International Cooperation as the Means toward Solving Civilian Abductions" in the Korea Press Foundation Bldg. sponsored by National Committee on Investigating Abductions during the Korean War; Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea featuring presentation of a researcher from the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) of Poland and the Chairman of National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea . | |
| Nov 18 | | | Had a meeting with Ms. Siobhan Hobbs, UN COI investigator on enforced disappearances by DPRK and requested inclusion of the wartime civilian abduction issue in the final report of COI and positive response was provided | |
| Nov. 19 | | | Submitted a petition to the International Criminal Court in Hague. Had a meeting with Mr. Song Sang-hyun, the President of ICC, regarding the wartime civilian abduction issue to be regarded as a form of continuing crime. | |
| 2014 | Mar. 17 | | | President of KWAFU Ms. Lee Mi-il testified "Ongoing Tragedy" in the parallel event ' Now We Know' hosted by HRW of 25th Session of UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva |
| 2015 | Feb. 17, 18 | | | Attended the conference in Washington, DC 'North Korean Human Rights: The Road Ahead' held commemorating the one year anniversary of the UN COI report and President Lee, Mi-il made a proposition to bring North Korean leader to ICC and requested to have opportunities to testify at UN general assembly. |
| Nov. 29~Dec. 1 | | | Held International Seminar 'Civilian Protection in the Wartime and Resolution of Civilian Abduction during the Korean War' featuring human rights cases of Kosovo, Guatemala, Poland and Cambodia presented in Seoul Global Center | |
| 2016 | Feb. 17-18 | | | Tarek Cheniti (Deputy Representative of UN Human Rights Office in Seoul) visits the family union's office and conducts series interviews with abduction victim families. (3.29-4.1) |
| 2017 | Dec. 5 | | | Held a KWAFU international seminar 'The Fundamental Solution of Civilian abduction Crimes by North Korea' at international conference room of Seoul Global Center(9th Fl.) with presentations of Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu, Nishioka Tsutomu and Ms. Kim, Miyoung |
| 2018 | Apr. 26 | | | Sent a letter of petition to the U.S. president Donald Trump saying the Korean War had stopped with truce without calling the North Korea to the account for its abduction crimes of hundreds of thousands of innocent South Korean civilians. And Moon administration is working to have a peace agreement signed to put an end to the Korean War but the real and sustainable peace on the Korean peninsula is not possible without resolution of Korean War abductees issue. Therefore we kindly ask the president Trump to raise our issue of 100,000 South Korean wartime abduction victims at the coming US-NK Summit. |
| May 16 | | | Sent a statement to the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton demanding USA to call on the North Korea to resolve the Korean War abductees issue at the US-NK Summit. | |
| May 25 | | | Held a press conference for the Seoul foreign correspondents prompting the Korean War abductees issue to be raised at US-NK Summit on 19th floor of Seoul Press Center | |
| Jun. 7, 8 | | | Held a 'Calling Names of the Korean War abductees, South Korean POWs and internees in North Korea' event in front of U.S. Embassy in Seoul Held a seminar 'Global cooperation of 13 countries for the resolution of illegal kidnapping by North Korea and counter measures' |
|
| Jun. 11 | | | Filming President Mi-il Lee and Hwang Incheol on the North Korean Abduction crimes done by AFP with the cooperation of UN OHCHR Seoul at UN OHCHR Seoul office and KWAFU office as well. | |
| Jun. 12 | | | One-person relay demonstration calling for the Korean War abductees issue to be included in the US-NK Summit in front of the USA Embassy in Seoul. | |
| Jul. 2 | | | Staff of the US embassy to Korea visited KWAFU office to hear opinions from the Korean War abductees' families on the declaration of the end of the Korean War and economic sanctions on North Korea. | |
| Oct, 26 | | | Filed a suit against Kim Jong-un under the article 9, crimes against humanity and article 10, war crimes against civilians, national law of the extraterritorial application of Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court with the help of Do Taewoo, a lawyer. | |
| Nov. 17 | | | Araki Gazhiro, President of Japan Missing Persons' Family Association and 16 of its members visited the National Memorial for Korean War Abductees on their first day of 3-day tour of Korea and had a meeting with KWAFU. TBS, Japan news media accompanied. | |
| Dec. 11 | | | Filed a suit against President Moon for dereliction of duty for not taking any action to settle the Korean War abduction issue after a press conference regarding it at Chongwadae at 2 pm. | |
| Dec. 31 | | | Published a book, 'Study on the International Special Court for the Resolution of Civilian Abduction during the Korean War' written by Kang Kyungmo, Lawyer of Washington D.C.(J.D.), Kim Miyoung, Representative of Transitional Justice Research Institute(J.D., LL. M.) and Park Jinha, International Development Specialist of UNDP | |
| 2019 | Jan. 23 | | | The Seoul UN Human Rights Office released a video on abduction damage taken on June 11, 2018 |
| Feb. 2 | | | VOA News said, "Government must urge North Korea to apologize and take responsible measures regarding the damage caused by wartime abductees." | |
| Feb. 20 | | | A reporter of Al Jazeera Broadcasting Company visited KWAFU's office and interviewed president Lee Mi-il and director Lee Kyung-chan. | |
| Apr. 2 | | | Jun Miura, the Japanese kidnapping countermeasure headquarters, visited KWAFU office and requested to attend a seminar on the "North Korea's abduction of civilians" to be held by Japanese government in Washington, USA on May 3, 2019. | |
| Jul. 16 | | | KWAFU held a press conference in front of the U.S. Embassy on the Resolution (H.Res.152) proposed by U.S. Representative Ro Khanna "Requesting for the Official End of the Korean War" and announced its position as follows. Requirements 1. The U.S. House of Representatives should withdraw the resolution (H. Res. 152) that exempts North Korea from war crimes immediately. 2. Prior to the declaration of the end of the war, the U.S. House of Representatives should take the lead in solving the North Korean War abduction crime problem, which was suspended during the armistice talks. 3. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives should take practical measures to resolve the issue of abductees, prisoners of war, and missing persons during the Korean War and to repatriate the victims. |
|
| Nov. 11 | | | Taisuke Mibae, political minister of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, visited the office of KWAFU. Agreed to work together to resolve the abduction issue of civilians. | |
| Nov. 22 | | | Fred & Cindy Warmbier, parents of Otto Warmbier were invited to the 'International Conference for the Legal Response of Victims of Abduction and Detention in North Korea' hosted by KWAFU and sponsored by the United Nations Office for Human Rights in Seoul. 11:00-12:00 'Joint press conference for victims of North Korea's abduction and detention' - KWAFU explains the purpose and main contents of the "International Conference" - Victim Families of U.S., Japan, Thailand Announce Purpose of Visit to Korea and Plans for Future Solidarity Activities 13:00-17:00 testimony from the victim's family Fred & Cindy Warmbier (parent of Otto Warmbier, USA), Teruaki Matsumoto (brother of Rumiko Matsumoto, Japan) Banjong Panchoi (niece of Anocha Panchoi, Thailand) Hwang In-cheol (son of Hwang Won, the abductee after the Korean War) Kim Nam-joo (son of Kim Jong-ki, abductee during the Korean War) Legal Measures for the Damage of Abduction and Detention in North Korea Fred & Cindy Warmbier (parent of Otto Warmbier, USA) Eiko Kawasaki (representative of 'Let's Get Together', Japan) Tomoharu Ebihara (representative of ARNKA, Association for the Rescue of North Korean Abductees, Japan) Shin Hee-seok (researcher of Transitional Justice Working Group, Doctor of Law, ROK) Kim Tae-hoon (representative of Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification on the Korean Peninsula, Lawyer, ROK) |
|
| 2020 | 2020 | | | Minister Mibae of the Japanese Embassy in Korea and two others visited the KWAFU office. Shared opinions on the resolution of the abduction issue between the two countries |
| Dec. 1 | | | Taisuke Mibae, the minister of political affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and three others were guided to the National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War. | |
| Dec. 4 | | | Kang Yoon-joo, legal officer and a newly appointed legal officer of the U.N. Seoul Human Rights visited KWAFU's office. Explained that North Korea's abduction of civilians during the Korean War is a crime, with documents and testimonies and -fully agreed with the importance of recording the victims' testimony. |
|
| 2021 | Feb. 4 | | | Attended an online meeting held by the Seoul Office of OHCHR to listen to the opinions of related civil society and victim groups before preparing 2021 reports on enforced disappearance and abduction issues. |
| Mar. 22 | | | President Lee Mi-il's interview was produced as a promotional video of the nkfootprints.info site by the Transitional Justice Working Group and posted on YouTube. | |
| Apr. 24 | | | President Lee Mi-il conducted an interview with Edward White, a reporter of the British daily business newspaper, Financial Times to write an article on the abduction during the Korean War. | |
| May 24 | | | Taisuke Mibae of Japanese Embassy in Seoul visited KWAFU office to greet as he was assigned to his home country in June. He promised continued interest and cooperation in resolving the abduction issue. | |
| Nov. 10 | | | Met Colin Timmerman and his party, an aide to U.S. Representative Kim Young, who visited Korea. Delivered them data and requirements related to the war abduction issue. | |
| 2022 | Feb. 17 | | | Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, met with NGO groups during his visit to Korea on the 17th to prepare a report on North Korean human rights to be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council. Choi Yoo-kyung, head of the International Team of KWAFU attended. |
| Mar. 30 | | | The U.N. Seoul office held a video conference with civic groups related to North Korean human rights, attended by Choi Yoo-kyung, head of the KWAFU international team. | |
| Apr. 25 | | | Legal officer Eleanor Fernandez and human rights officer Ha Im-sook who newly joined the U.N. Seoul office and had volunteered for KWAFU around 2010, visited KWAFU office. | |
| Apr. 29 | | | The U.N. Seoul office held a preliminary civil society group workshop on a meeting of victims and stakeholders to identify responsibilities in North Korea, attended by Choi Yoo-kyung, head of KWAFU international team. | |
| Jun. 10 | | | President Lee Mi-il and Lee Ok-nam, a member of Truth and Reconciliation Commission met with Fabian Salvioli, the Special Rapporteur in charge of Truth, Justice, Compensation, and Recurrence Prevention of the United Nations Human Rights Council, who is visiting Korea, to explain that South Korean government is also responsible for the war abductee problem and ask him for cooperation. | |
| Aug. 29 | | | Elizabeth Salmon, U.N. Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights held a meeting in the U.N. Human Rights Office in Seoul, attended by Choi Yookyung, head of the international team and Son Jeong-yeon, office manager of KWAFU | |
| Oct. 17 | | | James Hinan, new head of U.N. Seoul Human Rights Office, hosted a meeting of civic groups related to human rights in North Korea, attended by Choi Yookyung, head of the international team and Son Jeong-yeon, office manager of KWAFU | |
| Dec. 8 | | | James Hinaan, the new head of the U.N. Seoul Human Rights Office and Ha Im-sook, human rights officer visited KWAFU office, discussing on the solution of wartime abductees. | |
| 2023 | Feb. 7 | | | President Lee Mi-il attended a meeting with Jung Park, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific and Special Representative for North Korea in the U.S. Embassy, where president Lee said human rights issues are more important than nuclear issues to pressure North Korea. Ms. Park swore to the families that U.S. will never back down and fight to the end. |
| Mar. 28 | | | Choi Kwang-seok, a member of KWAFU testified at the publication event of the UN Human Rights Office's report, "The Unhealing Wounds: Enforced Disappearance and Abduction by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," , attended by director Lee Sung-eui and team leader Choi Yoo-kyung | |
Activities of KWARI (Korean War Abductees Research Institute)
| 2005 | Apr. 9 | | | Start of video-recording testimonies of the abductees' families; 130 cases completed as of 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun. 23 | | | 4th seminar "In Search for Legal Actions regarding the Damages of the Korean War Abduction" to commemorate the opening of the Korean War Abductees Research Institute (KWARI) | |
| 2006 | Sep. 28 | | | Publication of the 『Korean War Abduction Sourcebook Vol. 1』 and office relocation |
| 2007 | Apr. 2 | | | Publication 『KWARI Report Vol.1』 entitled "Is the legal concept of enforced or involuntary disappearances based on international law applicable to South Korean civilians abducted by North Korea during the Korean War?" |
| | | |||
| Jul. 24-27 | | | Researchers, officials from the U.S. Department of State, and congressmen accepted the KWARI's request for cooperation in finding the relevant US government documents on the Korean War abduction and recommended the introduction of the resolution to the US Congress | |
| Jul. 26 | | | KWAFU President's speech at a press forum hosted by the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. in order to enhance awareness on the need to address the Korean War Abductees issue; speech was entitled "Prerequisites for a peace treaty with North Korea relative to unfinished Korean War issues, including abduction of South Korean civilians by the North" | |
| Dec. 6 | | | Publication of the second 『KWARI Report Vol. 2』 including NPC speeches and newly discovered documents from the U.S. Department of State | |
| 2008 | Apr. 30 | | | 1st KWARI Forum under the theme of "Shedding new light on the Korean War abductees' human rights issue as marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the ROK"; As of today, four forums have been held in different fields. |
| 2009 | Oct. 8 | | | Publication of the 『Korean War Abduction Sourcebook 2』 and seminars on the Military Armistice Conference |
| 2010 | Nov. 30 | | | Publication of the KWARI research studies 1 『Closure of the Military Armistice Agreement and the Korean War Abductees』 by Heo Man-ho, a professor of Kyungpook National University |
| 2012 | Nov. 15 | | | Publication of 『Stories of the Korean War Abduction』 a collection of the top prize winner essays on the Korean War abduction |
| Nov. 22 | | | Publication of 『Ongoing Tragedy』 a book of testimonies of the Korean War abductees' families (English Ver.) | |
| Dec. 10 | | | Publication of 『Ongoing Tragedy』 a book of testimonies of the Korean War abductees' families (Korean Ver.) | |
| 2013 | Mar. 10-16 | | | On March 11th, KWARI and UN Watch co-hosted a seminar on "Civilian Abduction during the Korean War as a War Crime: Who can be held Accountable?" in the United Nations Office at Geneva Researchers of KWARI met with Mr. Marzuki Darusman(present commissioner of COI for DPRK), to bring UN OHCHR's attention to the wartime civilian abduction issue so as to be significantly considered in the COI for DPRK |
| Oct. 24 | | | KWARI hosted an international symposium on "International Cooperation as the Means toward Solving Civilian Abductions". Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, National Human Rights Committee, Korea Institute for National Unification, IPN(Institute for National Remembrance of Poland), etc. participated in the symposium to discuss the abduction issue Recorded | |
| Jul. 25-Dec.23 | | | Recorded 30 testimonies of abductee families (157 cases in total) | |
| 2014 | Mar. 3 | | | Published supplementary edition of the "People of No Return", a collection of data on the Korean War abduction. |
| Dec. 31 | | | Published 'Korean War Abduction Source Book 3' for the testimonies of victim families. | |
| 2015 | Dec. 10 | | | Published a book titled "The Path of Pilgrimage, Abduction by North Korea" |
| 2016 | Jan. 29 | | | Korean War Abductees Research Institute won the presidential commendation at the National Archives of the Daejeon Government Complex in 2015 for the National Records Management Award. |
| Feb. 2~Oct. 31 | | | Recorded 30 testimonies of abductee families (187 cases in total) | |
| 2017 | Jan. 23 | | | Published 'Korean War Abduction Source Book 4' for the testimonies of victim families. Held a Forum 'The Specificity of the Korean War and wartime abduction: the necessity of researching war crimes from a global historical perspective' Presentation: Dr. Kim Sang-min Discussion: Professor Yeo Hyun-chul and Professor Hwang Sun-ik |
| 2018 | Dec | | | Published a book titled "A Study of the International Special Tribunal for the Handling of Civil War Abduction of Civilians in the Korean War" written by Kang Kyung-mo (lawyer in Washington, D.C., USA), Kim Mi-young (Director of the Institute for Transitional Justice) and Park Jin-ha (International Development Expert in UN Development Planning) |
| 2019 | Mar. 22 | | | Sending an official letter requesting disclosure of the unreleased part of the U.S. CIA document to the U.S. National Archives (NARA) |
| Mar. 27 | | | With 50 cases scheduled, the recording of the testimony of the victim family begins. | |
| Apr. 19 | | | Received a reply from NARA saying that we should contact CIA, KWAFU immediately asked CIA to release the information. | |
| May. 31 | | | CIA has confirmed receipt and made interim notification of subsequent processing. | |
| Nov. 21 | | | Got a final notice from the CIA that they couldn't release the relevant information because it violated the National Security Law. | |
| Dec. 31 | | | Published the "Korean War Abduction Source Book 5" with a total of 49 testimonies included | |
FAX : (82)31-930-6099
