South Korea's surviving families of North Korean relatives fall below 33,000

Data submitted by the unification ministry shows a sharp decline in the number of South Koreans with living relatives in North Korea, dropping to under 33,000. While 134,848 individuals have registered as having separated family members, only 32,948 are still alive, and the majority are seniors: 10,945 are between 80 and 89 years old and 11,007 are 90 or older. The ministry estimates that around 3,000 such family members die annually.

Representative Woo Won-shik, who himself is affected, called for the ministry to prepare for inter-Korean dialogue to become a priority if talks between North Korea and the United States resume. He highlighted the urgency given the advanced age of the remaining survivors. The last official reunion event for separated families was held in August 2018, and ongoing tensions have limited further gatherings.