Suwon City's Veteran Civil Service Team Finds Traces of Father Abducted to North Korea During Korean War After 76 Years

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Choi Yoon-han, 82, who lives in Yeonmu-dong, Suwon, is living a newfound life these days despite his advanced age.

This is because he has found records of his father, the late Choi Ho-cheol (born 1917), who was abducted to North Korea during the Korean War in 1950, as well as information about the circumstances of his abduction—76 years later.

After his father's abduction, Choi and his family spent decades living in pain and longing.

To find even the smallest trace of his father, Choi visited numerous institutions over many years seeking assistance and sent official requests to many organizations for records.

However, the response was always the same: "No records available." He was often hurt by the apparent indifference of civil servants who seemed unwilling to understand his heart's desire to find even a small piece of his father's life.

The only information Choi knew about his father was that he was abducted in 1950 and had served as a volunteer firefighter before the abduction.

Last June, when Choi visited Suwon's Saebbit Civil Service Center, the tangled threads began to unravel.

Veteran team leaders from the Saebbit Civil Service Center—including Team Leaders Kim Young-deok, Kim Nam-hyun, and Gu Won-seo—listened carefully to Choi's words, unlike the civil servants he had met before, and showed understanding of his earnest and heartfelt plea.

Beyond this, these veteran team leaders even volunteered to become his "civil service advocate."

These veteran team leaders first inquired about Choi's father with related agencies including the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, the National Archives of Korea, and the Ministry of Unification, requesting records and making efforts to secure documents.

Through sincerity comes heaven's response. Shortly thereafter, they successfully obtained official records from the Ministry of Unification confirming that the late Choi Ho-cheol was officially designated as an abductee, with his occupation listed as "firefighter" at the time of abduction.

To confirm more detailed information, these veteran team leaders visited the National 6.25 War Abductee Memorial Hall in Paju with Choi in September of last year and found the late Choi Ho-cheol's name inscribed on the memorial wall and outdoor monuments.

For the first time in 76 years since parting from his father, Choi officially confirmed his father's records.

Choi Yoon-han touched his father's name inscribed on the monument with his hand, his eyes welling with tears.

The veteran team leaders did not stop there; they visited the heads of the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Fire Brigade Association and officials from the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire Department and Disaster Management Headquarters to discuss ways to honor the late Choi Ho-cheol's merits and show respect to his bereaved family.

The Suwon Fire Department commissioned the late Choi Ho-cheol as an honorary volunteer firefighter and presented his commendation to his bereaved family at the Volunteer Fire Brigade Day event held on March 19. The Suwon Fire Department Volunteer Fire Brigade Association presented a commendation plaque to the bereaved family, and the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Fire Brigade Association presented an honorary volunteer firefighter commission plaque.

Afterward, Choi Yoon-han sent a letter of gratitude to Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-june.

"After my father's abduction, our family lived for decades in pain and longing," he wrote, "and thanks to the veteran team leaders at the Saebbit Civil Service Center, we gained great strength. Beyond simple administrative support, I felt the nation and society's desire to share a story filled with one person's pain and earnest longing, and that has been both comfort and hope for me."

He continued, "I once again express my deep gratitude for the mayor's consideration in paying attention to even the smallest voices of citizens and practicing warm administration."

Choi also sent a letter to the veteran team leaders, saying, "Beyond simple help, I witnessed deep warmth and sincerity as human beings. Thanks to veteran team leaders Kim Young-deok, Kim Nam-hyun, and Gu Won-seo, I was able to not give up my steps toward my father."

The veteran team leaders who accompanied Choi said, "Abductees are sometimes mistaken for defectors, and bereaved families are often hurt," adding, "Based on the civil service advocate system, we actively worked to restore the honor of Choi's father, and we are delighted that the late Choi Ho-cheol's life has been brought to light again and he has regained his honor."