A Waiting Game - Separated family members anticipate reunion 이산가족 절차, 슬픈 현실

Red Cross officials from the two Koreas are busy preparing for next month's inter-Korean family reunions at Mount Geumgang. Out of the tens of thousands of families registered for reunions, it's a sad reality that only one hundred will have the chance to see their loved ones again in the North this time around. Connie Lee has more on the selection process. Fathers separated from their wives and children..., brothers and sisters split from one other... more than 60 years ago. "We're looking for our older brother... Kim Nam-gik . He was taken away during the war by the North Korean military at the age of 19." --it's a harsh reality for families... who were separated by the Korean War. "As I've gotten older, and since my children have grown and left... I now have this longing to see my own family. I don't know if they'll be found, but it's worth a try..." But unfortunately... most of these people-- here at Korea's Red Cross... will not be selected to reunite with their loved ones come September. There are currently about 72-thousand registered separated family members in South Korea... but only a fraction,... just one-hundred of them,... will be selected to reunite with their loved ones on September 25th through the 30th at Mt. Geumgang in North Korea. The first round of cuts was made through a computer process that filtered out the younger candidates... and gave priority to those who are either looking for a child or spouse. Come Thursday,... another cut: the list will be whittled down to about 200 after various health exams of the candidates... to make sure they are well enough to travel to Mt. Geumgang. Once that happens, South Korea's Red Cross will exchange its list with North Korea... to confirm whether the family members they're looking for are indeed alive. Then.. the final list of one-hundred. "It usually takes us 50 days to get ready for the reunions, but we will get everything together in a month. We are speeding up the preparation process this year..." But time is running out for many of these separated family members. Data show out of those who are still living... 80 percent... or nearly 60-thousand... are over the age of 70. "I just hope to see them before I die... // When I see my siblings, what could I possibly say I'll probably just hold them... hug them... before saying goodbye again." Connie Lee, ArirangNews.