Despite spending decades in South Korea, Ahn's longing for his homeland highlights the ongoing complexities of the Korean peninsula.
A 95-Year-Old POW's Final Wish: To Return Home to North Korea
A 95-Year-Old POW's Final Wish: To Return Home to North Korea
Ahn Hak-sop, a former prisoner of war, dreams of dying where he believes he truly belongs.
Despite the oppressive heat, a significant crowd gathered at Imjingang Station in South Korea earlier this week to witness the poignant journey of Ahn Hak-sop, a 95-year-old former North Korean prisoner of war. He had long hoped to return to the North, a place he believed should be his final resting ground after decades of living in the South, often against his will. However, the South Korean government ultimately turned him away, stating they lacked the time necessary to facilitate the arrangements needed for his crossing.
A frail Ahn, who suffers from pulmonary oedema, could not complete the 30-minute walk to the Unification Bridge, the only crossing from South Korea into North Korea; he was escorted by supporters, stepping out of the car approximately 200 meters from the bridge to walk the final stretch on foot. Carrying a North Korean flag, Ahn addressed the small assembly of journalists and well-wishers, expressing his desire for his body to rest in "a truly independent land," free from what he sees as imperialism.
Ahn's journey began long before this moment. Captured by South Korean forces at the age of 23 during the Korean War, he was imprisoned until 1995, after which he struggled to fully reintegrate into South Korean society, often feeling marginalized due to his background. His longing for North Korea has persisted, driven by an unwavering belief in its ideology and the narrative that the division of Korea is rooted in US imperialism.
Born during Japanese colonial rule, Ahn's formative years instilled in him a sense of patriotism and a keen awareness of colonialism's impacts. He has always viewed the post-war division of Korea not as liberation but a mere shift in colonial power, arguing that US military presence in South Korea reflects a continuation of oppression.
Despite opportunities to renounce his North Korean roots for a chance at freedom, Ahn resisted, enduring severe abuse for his chosen path, ultimately leading to his imprisonment. His steadfast beliefs regarding North Korea's situation—defending its resilience and siding with Kim Jong-un’s regime—contrast with prevailing narratives about the regime's human rights violations.
Ahn's life experiences parallel the dramatic political shifts of both Koreas, from his youth under a military dictatorship to South Korea's transformation into a thriving democracy, yet his perspective on these changes remains rooted in a desire for reunification, free from foreign influence. Ahn's tireless activism seeks to raise awareness of what he perceives as continued colonialism; as he put it, to live without a political life strips a person of their humanity.
Thus, Ahn Hak-sop's wish to return home serves as a poignant reminder of the deep-seated issues that continue to affect the Korean peninsula, highlighting a clash of beliefs firmly entrenched in contrasting political realities.
A frail Ahn, who suffers from pulmonary oedema, could not complete the 30-minute walk to the Unification Bridge, the only crossing from South Korea into North Korea; he was escorted by supporters, stepping out of the car approximately 200 meters from the bridge to walk the final stretch on foot. Carrying a North Korean flag, Ahn addressed the small assembly of journalists and well-wishers, expressing his desire for his body to rest in "a truly independent land," free from what he sees as imperialism.
Ahn's journey began long before this moment. Captured by South Korean forces at the age of 23 during the Korean War, he was imprisoned until 1995, after which he struggled to fully reintegrate into South Korean society, often feeling marginalized due to his background. His longing for North Korea has persisted, driven by an unwavering belief in its ideology and the narrative that the division of Korea is rooted in US imperialism.
Born during Japanese colonial rule, Ahn's formative years instilled in him a sense of patriotism and a keen awareness of colonialism's impacts. He has always viewed the post-war division of Korea not as liberation but a mere shift in colonial power, arguing that US military presence in South Korea reflects a continuation of oppression.
Despite opportunities to renounce his North Korean roots for a chance at freedom, Ahn resisted, enduring severe abuse for his chosen path, ultimately leading to his imprisonment. His steadfast beliefs regarding North Korea's situation—defending its resilience and siding with Kim Jong-un’s regime—contrast with prevailing narratives about the regime's human rights violations.
Ahn's life experiences parallel the dramatic political shifts of both Koreas, from his youth under a military dictatorship to South Korea's transformation into a thriving democracy, yet his perspective on these changes remains rooted in a desire for reunification, free from foreign influence. Ahn's tireless activism seeks to raise awareness of what he perceives as continued colonialism; as he put it, to live without a political life strips a person of their humanity.
Thus, Ahn Hak-sop's wish to return home serves as a poignant reminder of the deep-seated issues that continue to affect the Korean peninsula, highlighting a clash of beliefs firmly entrenched in contrasting political realities.
