Survivors among Korean War separated families fall below 33,000

Korean War separated families with survivors fall below 33,000

According to data from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, the number of surviving members of separated families with relatives in North Korea fell to 32,948 as of August. More than two-thirds of the survivors are over 80, while around 3,000 people die each year.

Scraper SystemSeptember 27, 2026, 12:18 PM

Korean War separated families with survivors fall below 33,000

Time is running out for the families divided by the Korean War. South Korea’s Ministry of Unification announced that only 32,948 of the 134,848 registered people with family members in North Korea were still alive as of August.

More than two-thirds of the survivors are over 80. Of these, 10,945 are between the ages of 80 and 89, while 11,007 are 90 or older.

Around 3,000 die each year

Ministry data show that around 3,000 survivors with relatives in North Korea die each year. The figures indicate that the time remaining for families separated after the Korean War to reunite is growing shorter.

Woo Won-shik, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, said the Ministry of Unification should begin preparations now to ensure that separated families are made a priority if inter-Korean talks resume. Woo also has family members in North Korea.

Last reunion took place in 2018

The Korean War led to the division of numerous families. Tensions between the two Koreas have made it difficult for these families to reunite, while the last reunion of separated families in South Korea was held in 2018.