Inter-Korean Relations: South Korean families reunite with relatives in DPRK

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02:01

Dozens of South Koreans will reunite with relatives separated by the Korean War. Our correspondent Shane Hahm had a chance to meet some of the participants, who are eagerly awaiting the day they will finally see their loved ones again.

86-year-old Hong Shin-ja sings a folk song about Mt. Geumgang in the DPRK. That's where she'll be reuniting with her sister, whom she was separated from nearly seven decades ago.

HONG SHIN-JA SOUTH KOREAN REUNION PARTICIPANT "My sister was 13 and I was 16 years old. The last thing I remember was quarrelling and fighting with her."

Hong is among 84 South Koreans that will be traveling to Mt. Geumgang to take part in the upcoming reunions. 81-year-old Jang Choon will also be making the trip. He says he'll be able to die peacefully if given the chance to meet his younger brother.

JANG CHOON SOUTH KOREAN REUNION PARTICIPANT "I've lived my entire life hoping for the day to meet my brother, that I wouldn't die before that."

SHANE HAHM SEOUL "The South Korean Red Cross randomly selects reunion participants from a list of applicants, with preference given to those of older age. Officials must then conduct a search to locate relatives across the border. Those lucky enough will have less than a week to make up for nearly a lifetime of separation."

Seoul and Pyongyang have held dozens of rounds of reunions since 2000. But aside from these events, residents are banned from any cross-border contact. And when the DPRK canceled scheduled reunions last fall, the news was devastating for family members.

HONG SHIN-JA SOUTH KOREAN REUNION PARTICIPANT "I cried for several days. I thought I was going to die without ever seeing her again."

This time around, Hong may finally have the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong wish.