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Displaced villagers call Gyodong home. Hope for Korean unity. Memories of war endure.

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Life After Conflict: Displaced North Koreans on Gyodong Island

Gyodong Island shelters North Korean war refugees like Kim and Min. They hope for a unified Korea, carrying memories of division.

Updated: Sep 02, 2022 10:53

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Life After Conflict: Displaced North Koreans on Gyodong Island

Gyodong Island, South Korea, August 7 (PTI): Kim Cheong San and his wife Min Ok Sun, both in their 90s, built their temporary tin-roof shelter over 70 years ago after being displaced by the Korean War. It now stands as their permanent home on Gyodong Island. Situated along the tense border between North and South Korea, the island is home to numerous displaced North Koreans who took part in the conflict of the 1950s.

A bridge was created in 2014, connecting Gyodong-do to Ganghwa-do where the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Peace Trail is located, allowing tourists to explore locations such as Daeryong village and the nostalgic Daeryong Market. Kim, originally from Hwanghae-do in North Korea, was part of the UN8240 Eulji Tiger Brigade, a guerrilla unit that assisted US Army missions to rescue Air Force pilots after the Korean War's outbreak on June 25, 1950.

Min, who has shared a life journey with Kim since she was 17 and settled on Gyodong-do, was forced to leave her homeland after the country was divided post-war. The couple and other displaced North Koreans temporarily settled on Gyodong Island when the conflict ceased on July 27, 1953.

Kim reflected, "Villagers here provided us with shelters, which eventually turned from temporary abodes into lifelong homes."

Min shared her initial desire for peace and her hopes to return to her homeland: "I longed to return, get married in the presence of my parents, but life led me here."

Both Kim and Min have three sons, all thriving in various South Korean cities, and they maintain strong family connections through frequent visits. The pain of Korea's division remains palpable for veterans like them who still inhabit the island, along with the enduring memories of a tumultuous era.

Another veteran, Chae Ja Eok, shares his recollections of being part of the UN8240 Eulji Tiger Brigade. This unit was tasked with aiding US forces in rescuing downed American pilots from North Korea, equipped with artillery and uniforms from the US Army. He recalls arriving on Gyodong-do at only 19, amid the region's transformation after Japan's colonial rule ended on August 15, 1945.

The abrupt division at the 38th Parallel spearheaded by US and Soviet forces led to the eventual establishment of North and South Korea and created the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Chae reflects on the subsequent suffering endured by Korean displaced individuals.

His guerrilla unit had early successes, such as helping the United Nations Command occupy Kaesong, but the need to retreat to South Korea marked events like the January 4th Retreat of 1951. Displacement, lack of secure futures, and the eventual settling on islands like Gyodong-do characterize Chae's narrative.

For war veterans who have lived their lives on the southern peninsula, the hope of witnessing a unified Korea persists. Many long to see their childhood homes just once before they pass. Veteran sentiments lean towards a unified Korean peninsula, resonating with Min's optimism that "if Germany could unify, so can Korea. We must leave the past behind and move forward as one Korea."

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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