44 Overseas Residents from the Five Northern Korean Provinces in Six Countries to Visit Their Homeland for Five Days

[Financial News] Forty-four overseas residents from the Five Northern Korean Provinces, living in countries including the United States and Canada, will visit South Korea for five days starting on the 14th. Participants include an 87-year-old first-generation resident from South Pyongan Province and a displaced person who left Hungnam Port at the age of three during the January 4 Retreat.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces announced on the 13th that it would hold the 'Invitation Event for Overseas Residents from the Five Northern Korean Provinces to Visit Their Homeland' from the 14th to the 18th. This year's delegation consists of 44 people from 20 regions in six countries: 27 from the United States, 10 from Canada, three from Australia, two from Germany, and one each from Argentina and New Zealand.
The oldest participant is Kim Seon-suk, 87, from Deogyang County, South Pyongan Province. Yang Eun-gyeong, 86, from Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province, came to Busan aboard the Victoria from Hungnam Port when she was three years old during the January 4 Retreat. Choi Tae-seok, 62, from Samsu County, South Hamgyong Province, who is active in the Korean community in the United States, is also part of the visiting delegation.
After paying their respects at Seoul National Cemetery, the delegation will visit border areas including Ganghwa Peace Observatory, Ganghwa War Museum and Imjingak Resort (Pyeonghwa Nuri Park) in Paju. They will also tour the West Sea Defense Hall in Pyeongtaek, Hyundai Motorstudio and the National Museum of Korea. A successor generation consisting of third-generation displaced people will accompany the delegation during the Ganghwa County and Paju itineraries.
Performances introducing the intangible cultural heritage of the Five Northern Korean Provinces will also be held, including Hwanghae Province Hwagwanmu, Pyongan Province Baebaengigut, North Pyongan Province Nongyo, South Hamgyong Province Dondolnari and North Hamgyong Province Aewonseong. A gathering will also be arranged for residents from the Five Northern Korean Provinces and North Korean defectors in Korea and abroad to come together through dance and song.
The overseas residents' homeland visit program began in 1996, when 98 residents from the Five Northern Korean Provinces in the Americas were invited. Since then, the invitation has expanded to additional regions, and a total of 4,670 people had visited South Korea by the end of last year.
Song Nam-su, chairman of the Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces, said, "I hope you will continue to contribute to cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the international community, as well as to the development of the compatriot community, as civilian diplomats."


[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter