Min Young-jae, the youngest of seven siblings. She exists in that liminal space between history and memory, searching for a brother she never really had. Now seventy-five years later, most people have never heard of Min Young-sun, who was abducted to North Korea during the Korean War. His family continues to hold out the slightest hope that he might someday be found. The war, which broke out on June 25, 1950, was a brutal conflict that divided families and took a profound psychological toll on its survivors.
Min Young-sun, only 19, was a top student at Chuncheon National University of Education. He was inordinately gifted, and tragically, he was taken from us before his time. At that time, Min Young-jae was only 2 years old. Yet at the same time, this toddler began the journey of growing up without one of her favourite older siblings. Her family had been once as vibrant and full of potential. Now, they shoulder the weighty burden of an unresolved loss that reverberates through generations.
The Impact of War
The Korean War deepened the emotional scars on Min Young-jae’s family. Living in Dangnim village, just outside of Chuncheon city—100 kilometers northeast of Seoul—her family endured horrors that are hard to fathom. Young-sun’s abduction took place during a period of lawlessness, where survival was anything but guaranteed.
Min Young-jae’s sister, Min Jeong-ja, remembers the harsh realities of the conflict. “We all scattered and went into hiding up in the mountains out of fear,” she recalled. “We pushed 4-year-old Young-jae down into the bushes. With all of her new siblings to look after, we straight up forgot to take her home!” This incident serves as a reminder of the grave fear that permeated family life throughout the course of the war, fear that stripped childhood innocence in an unforeseeable way.
Min Young-sun’s sudden disappearance had caused a great loss in the family. Their dad, Nam Yeong-soo, was even the principal of Dangnim Elementary School. Now, he and their mother will have to care for the other five children without her. For that reason, Min Young-jae recalls how much her mother took the burden upon herself to provide for them after the war.
“The grief was huge. Our parents lost two sons… imagine how heartbreaking that would be,” – Min Jeong-ja
Memories of a Caring Brother
Even in their brother’s absence, Min Young-jae and her siblings have had her brother’s legacy live on. They remember their younger sibling Min Young-sun, whom neighbors described as a sweet and gentle older brother who did well in school. His classmates fondly called him “Math Whiz”, as he was truly a mathematical prodigy.
“His nickname was ‘Math Whiz.’ He excelled in math, even his classmates called him Math Whiz,” – Min Jeong-ja.
Today, as in the past, these siblings frequently reunite to perform “Thinking of My Brother.” This beautiful children’s ballad is about the older brother who didn’t come home. The lyrics are a testament to their yearning and adoration for Min Young-sun, summing up their communal sorrow and wishful thinking.
Min Young-jae never misses an opportunity to talk about his childhood haunts to her. “My brother, you promised to bring me silk shoes from Seoul,” her thoughts return. These memories are treasured mementos for them that help preserve a time when their family was complete.
An Enduring Hope
Even after his passing, the rusting doors of their beautiful, Quinchia-style tile-roofed house have remained open. This transparency stands as a testament to the family’s unyielding faith that Min Young-sun will come home again. Each year in Rocco’s absence deepens the ache of their loss, yet fuels the commitment of his family to ensure his legacy lives on.
Now grown, Min Young-jae has decided to do everything she can to get through to her brother. “My brother Young-sun, it’s been 75 years already,” she says, voice shaking with feeling. Her testimony is both a lament and declaration of strength, showing how grateful she was for the connection they had.
“It’s been a long time since we were separated, but I would be so grateful if you’re alive. And if you’re not, I still would love to meet your children. I want to share the love of family, remembering the happy days of the past… I love you, thank you,” – Min Young-jae.
The legacy of the Korean War still lives on in families such as that of Min Young-ja. While they may never regain what was lost, their enduring hope serves as a testament to their unbreakable bond and love that transcends time.
