My paternal grandparents were both from North Korea (Sinuiju) and left the North during the Korean War. My grandfather escaped to the South while his oldest brother stayed back to hold onto their property (something that was apparently quite common as responsibilities and privileges were mostly passed down to the eldest son) without realizing that the war was never going to end, and they were never going to see each other again. My grandfather was never able to attend these North-South meetings and never knew when or how his brother passed away.
And my grandmother's escape, which was very well-known in our family, was dramatic and honestly something that could be made into a movie. She was from a well-off family, skiing with friends, and enjoying life. When young men started distributing pamphlets and talking of communism, she realized that they were targeting her family. Her entire family escaped, but as the eldest daughter, she took her two younger cousins and went south when the Chinese began attacking at the Yalu River, Her stories were really full of near-death experiences (held gunpoint by a soldier) and LOTS of hiding to avoid attention (hiding behind bushes at night time). I remember her saying something along the lines of "everywhere we went, we were the enemies, be it South Korean soldiers/police and North Korean soldiers."
She met my grandfather in Seoul, realized both of them were from Sinuiju, and got married. Sometimes, I kind of wish North Korea was open and safe so I can visit my grandparents' hometown.
t-o-m-u-s-a on December 3rd, 2024 at 18:25 UTC »
Likely the last time they would see each other
oshinbruce on December 3rd, 2024 at 23:14 UTC »
That generation is nearly gone, in another 20-30 years those sort of links will be gone and the two countries will be even further divided
eldakim on December 4th, 2024 at 00:27 UTC »
Personal story time.
My paternal grandparents were both from North Korea (Sinuiju) and left the North during the Korean War. My grandfather escaped to the South while his oldest brother stayed back to hold onto their property (something that was apparently quite common as responsibilities and privileges were mostly passed down to the eldest son) without realizing that the war was never going to end, and they were never going to see each other again. My grandfather was never able to attend these North-South meetings and never knew when or how his brother passed away.
And my grandmother's escape, which was very well-known in our family, was dramatic and honestly something that could be made into a movie. She was from a well-off family, skiing with friends, and enjoying life. When young men started distributing pamphlets and talking of communism, she realized that they were targeting her family. Her entire family escaped, but as the eldest daughter, she took her two younger cousins and went south when the Chinese began attacking at the Yalu River, Her stories were really full of near-death experiences (held gunpoint by a soldier) and LOTS of hiding to avoid attention (hiding behind bushes at night time). I remember her saying something along the lines of "everywhere we went, we were the enemies, be it South Korean soldiers/police and North Korean soldiers."
She met my grandfather in Seoul, realized both of them were from Sinuiju, and got married. Sometimes, I kind of wish North Korea was open and safe so I can visit my grandparents' hometown.