The Abductees’ Memorial
The National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War in Imjingang, Paju City, is a little-known institution dedicated to the at least 95,456 South Korean civilians who were taken against their will to North Korea during the hostilities (1950-1953) and were never heard of again.
Most of them were educated men, civil servants, businesspeople, writers, teachers, christian pastors, etc. The North seemed to have a very clear idea of which people it wanted to abduct in order to help the reconstruction of the country after the war, or to eliminate political enemies.
At the end of the conflict, prisoners of war were exchanged, but civilian abductees were excluded. Little has been done since to find them alive or to repatriate their ashes. Pyongyang has always flatly denied abducting civilians, claiming that the people who disappeared in the South had voluntarily defected to North Korea.
Another tragedy within the tragedy…
"The Road of Return", the monument in front of the main building, was erected to destigmatize the abductees and their families and relieve their more than seven decades-long agony.
The National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War
For further information:
National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War (official website)
