There have been 20 reunions since 2000, but this was the first in nearly five years. Our correspondent Shane Hahm spoke with one of the people taking part.

84-year-old Paik Seong-yeon grew up in a small, rural town in present-day DPRK.

Sandwiched between two mountains, a stream passed through her village of about 20 houses.

PAIK SEONG-YEON FAMILY REUNION PARTICIPANT "We would catch crayfish and play with our friends. It's the same as rural families here now. That's how we lived."

The last time Paik saw her family was in 1951 at the height of the Korean War. She was separated amid a rush to escape the fighting. So, when she heard she was selected to participate in family reunions, she was elated.

But Paik won't be meeting her parents or siblings, who have since passed away. Instead, she will be meeting her siblings' spouses and their children.

PAIK SEONG-YEON FAMILY REUNION PARTICIPANT "The first thing I want to ask is how did mom and dad pass away. Whatever happened to grandma and grandpa? All I can ask about is how they have lived. What else would we have in common to talk about because we didn't grow up together."

The ROK and DPRK have held 20 rounds of reunions since 2000, but the latest round will be the first in nearly five years. Leaders from the two sides agreed in April to resume family reunions, noting the urgency for those separated.

SHANE HAHM SEOUL "Being chosen to take part in these family reunions is like winning the lottery. Since the late-1980s, more than 132,000 South Koreans have registered but fewer than two percent have had a chance to reunite. Time is of the essence because for the first time the number of people on the government registry that have since passed away has surpassed the number of those still alive."

Paik has prepared some garments and long underwear for her extended family members. She'll only have several hours over a span of three days to make up for lost time. After that, it's back to life on opposite sides of the border.

PAIK SEONG-YEON FAMILY REUNION PARTICIPANT "After we meet our family members in the DPRK, they should let us exchange letters or travel back and forth. All I want is the opportunity to meet each other. That's it. What else could I ask for?"

Accompanying Paik to the reunion will be her husband of more than 50 years. He's the only family she's known since the day she was separated.

Shane Hahm, CGTN, Seoul.