Longing for Home

[Anchor Lead]

South Korea’s Gyodongdo Island is located just three kilometers from Hwanghae-do Province, North Korea. It’s home to a large community of people originally from the North who sought refuge on the island during the Korean War. As South and North Korea stage today’s historic meeting, we bring you the stories of the people who have been waiting for decades to return to their hometowns.

[Pkg]

Six decades after the national division, time at this barbershop seems to have stood still. Barber Ji Kwang-sik came to this island at the age of 12 from Hwanghae-do Province in North Korea. His customer, Chang Young-ho, is also from the North. But there are not many people left in this neighborhood to share their pain and nostalgia. Chang moved to Gyodongdo Island from Seoul four years ago. He always missed the island because of its close proximity to his hometown.

[Soundbite] Chang Young-ho(Gyodong-do Island Resident) : "I can see the houses and people in my neighborhood."

The men say the last thing they want is to be disappointed by the outcome of the inter-Korean summit.

[Soundbite] Lee In-bae(Korean War Refugee) : "Even fish can swim in this area freely. The pain of national division is beyond words."

[Soundbite] Chang Young-ho(Korean War Refugee) : "They tried to hold talks before, but it didn't work out. I'm skeptical this time as well."

So far, their hopes had been dashed each time the two Koreas tried to improve ties. The island residents follow the news carefully.

[Soundbite] "It's going to be better. (It's going to be different from how things were when presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun went there.)"

Deep inside, these people refuse to give up on hope that very soon they will be able to visit their hometowns for the first time in many decades.

[Soundbite] "Do you think we can go visit our hometowns this time around?"