Church in Korea Prayerful Ahead of Family Reunions

The Feb. 20-25 reunions of people separated by the 1953 partition would be the first since 2010, but North Korea’s Communist government has threatened to cancel the event.

SEOUL, South Korea — As North and South Korea prepare for reunions for some families separated by the 1953 partition of the peninsula, the Church in Korea remains concerned for the countries’ reunification.

Family reunions are scheduled to take place Feb. 20-25, though North Korea has threatened to cancel the event. Such reunions would be the first since 2010.

Archbishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, who will become a cardinal on Feb. 22, is known for his dedication to reconciliation between North and South Korea, and the South Korean bishops’ conference held a month of prayer for the reconciliation and unity of the Korean people last year.

The reunion will be held at Mount Kumgang, a resort in North Korea.

The Koreas held a meeting Feb. 5 during which the reunions were agreed upon.

“We hope that the latest agreement will be smoothly carried out to ease the suffering and pain of separated families,” the Korean Ministry of Unification stated.

An estimated 72,000 South Koreans are on a waiting list for a chance to participate in such family reunions, and at each reunion, a few hundred are able to take part.

Last year, Bishop Peter Lee Ki-heon of Uijongbu led the Korean bishops’ prayers for reconciliation.

Mass, prayers, a symposium and a peace march were organized, aiming to reignite passion for unity and to help the faithful become “apostles of peace.”

Other aims were true peace, rather than a mere cease-fire, and preparation for the evangelization of North Korea.

A prayer chain ran throughout South Korea last June, beginning in Seoul and ending in Wonju. The prayer chain sought Mary’s intercession for peace between the Koreas.

The Korean nations have existed in tension since the 1953 agreement that divided the peninsula into two. Direct exchanges, meetings and communications across the armistice line are normally prohibited.