DNA samples of Abductees’ family members were collected,
Hoping to find the remains of their deceased parents

Chosun Daily
Jun. 08, 2010


In the afternoon of the 7th, a large banner, on which the photos of 157 Korean War abductees were printed, was hung in the International Conference Room on the 20th floor of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. About 300 family members of abductees put carnations in front of the photos of the abductees and stroked the photos, holding back tears.

The Korean War Abductees’ Family Union (KWAFU) held the “Day of Remembrance for the Korean War Abductees” event and took DNA samples of the abductees’ families in preparation for the repatriation of the abductees’ remains. In this event, 300 abductees’ family members between 99 and 117 in age were given priority to take DNA samples first.

Hong Jeong-hee (75), daughter of Hong Sun-ok (52, at the time of abduction) who was a member of the Constituent Assembly, held a carnation close to her father’s nose in the photo so that he could smell the fragrance and stroked the image of his face. She opened her mouth wide and a staff from a DNA research center put in a cotton swap to get saliva and pulled six or seven silver hairs. The staff also poked her middle finger to draw blood.

After all the necessary procedures, Mrs. Hong said with tear, “If my father is still alive, he would be 112 years old. I gave up a hope to see him in person a long time ago. My last hope is to find his remains.”

Pastor Kim Seong-ho (78), son of Kim Yu-yeon (41 at the time of abduction), who was a former professor at Seoul Theological University, said, “I don’t know where on earth my father was buried, but I hope to find the place and hold it in my arms.”