Number of S. Koreans with family in N. Korea down to less than 33,000

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SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Koreans with family members in North Korea following their separation during the 1950-53 Korean War continues to drop, with less than 33,000 now remaining and the majority of them already aged over 80 years, data showed Sunday.

As of late August, a total of 134,848 people have registered as having separated family members in the North, but only 32,948 of them were still living, according to the data from the unification ministry submitted to Rep. Woo Won-shik of the ruling Democratic Party.

Of the survivors, two-thirds were aged 80 and older -- 10,945 aged 80 to 89 and 11,007 aged 90 and older. Around 3,000 people with family in the North die every year, the data showed.

"As not much time remains for separated families, the unification ministry must start preparing now so that inter-Korean dialogue can be discussed as a priority agenda item in the event talks resume between North Korea and the United States," said Woo, who himself has family in the North.

The war left many people separated from their families, but ongoing inter-Korean tensions have made reunions difficult. The last time South Korea hosted reunions for separated families was in August 2018.

South Koreans separated from their kin in North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War hold a joint ancestral ritual in Seoul, in this file photo from Sept. 8, 2022, one day ahead of the Chuseok holiday. (Yonhap)

hague@yna.co.kr (END)

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Number of S. Koreans with family in N. Korea down to less than 33,000

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首尔，9月27日（韩联社）——周日公布的数据显示，在1950-53年朝鲜战争期间与朝鲜分离后，在朝鲜有亲属的韩国人数量持续下降，目前仅剩不到33000人，其中大多数人已超过80岁。

截至 8 月下旬，朝鲜共有 134,848 人登记为与家人分离，但根据统一部提交给执政党共同民主党议员禹元植的数据，其中只有 32,948 人仍然在世。

在幸存者中，三分之二是80岁及以上的老人——其中10945人年龄在80至89岁之间，11007人年龄在90岁及以上。数据显示，每年约有3000名在北方有亲属的人去世。

“留给离散家庭的时间不多了，统一部必须现在就开始准备，以便在朝美恢复会谈时，将朝韩对话作为优先议程项目进行讨论，”伍先生说道，他本人也有家人在朝鲜。

战争导致许多人与家人分离，但持续不断的朝韩紧张局势使得团聚困难重重。韩国上一次为离散家庭举办团聚活动是在2018年8月。

这张摄于2022年9月8日（中秋节前一天）的资料照片显示，在1950-53年朝鲜战争期间与朝鲜亲属分离的韩国人在首尔举行联合祭祖仪式。（韩联社）

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在朝鲜有亲属的韩国人数量已降至不足33000人