January 18, 2002, Donga Ilbo
A list of civilian abductees from the Korean War written by the government has been released to the public.


The February issue of the Monthly Chosun reported that the list, entitled “List of Korean War Abductees,” was written right after the end of the war and lists the names of 86,610 abductees from around the country. Another list, entitled “List of Abductees in Seoul,” written by the statistics department in the former Office of Public Information, includes a list of 4,616 civilians who were abducted in Seoul from June 25, 1950, until September 28, 1950, when the city was recaptured by friendly forces.

The list has a total of 2,438 names organized by occupation and includes well-known figures from the time including Jo So Ang, novelist Lee Gwang Su, Seoul National University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Son Jin Tae, Korea University President Hyun Sang Yoon, and lawmaker An Jae Hong.
Discovery of a Korean War Abductees List for the First Time

At the offices of the Korean War Abductees’ Family Union (KWAFU, Mi-Il Lee, president), family union members hold a press conference presenting the list of wartime abductees from around the country. One family union member sheds tears after confirming that his father is on the list.

A list showing the names of around 82,000 civilians who were abducted by North Korea from around the country during the Korean War has been discovered for the first time. The Korean War Abductees’ Family Union (KWAFU, Mi-Il Lee, president) announced that it has discovered a Korean War abductees’ list written by the Office of Public Information in 1952 that includes the names of 82,959 people, where they were abducted, and information regarding their identities. The list includes lawmakers Gu Jung Hui, Paek Gwan Su, and Jang Byung Man, Seoul Junggu Office Chief Gwon Tae Sul, U.S. Embassy interpreter Seong Hae Won and Seoul Deputy Prosecutor Lee Ju Sin.

The family union has until now confirmed the identities of only 40 people from the list of almost 80,000 and plans to continue confirming the identities of all the people on the list.
“Up until now, only the numbers of abductees from the Korean War have been known. This is the first time a detailed list has ever been released,” said KWAFU President Lee. “This list will allow us to clearly distinguish between those who voluntarily went to north and those who were abducted.”