On a scorching morning earlier this week, an unexpected crowd gathered at Imjingang Station, the last station on Seoul's subway line closest to North Korea. Among them was Ahn Hak-sop, a 95-year-old former prisoner of war, known for his steadfast belief in reunification, making what he termed his "final journey" to return home. For decades, Mr. Ahn wished to be buried in the North, having spent much of his life in South Korea against his will. However, he never reached the border, as government officials informed him there wasn't enough time to make the necessary arrangements.
Despite his delicate health, exacerbated by pulmonary edema, Mr. Ahn managed to walk the final stretch towards the Unification Bridge, supported by two companions. Clutching a North Korean flag, he addressed supporters, declaring, “I just want my body to rest in a truly independent land, free from imperialism.”
Mr. Ahn's political beliefs are deeply rooted in his history. At 23, he was captured during the Korean War, having joined the North Korean People’s Army, believing in the North's cause after the South was attacked in 1950. He was imprisoned for over 42 years after his capture, branded a “redhead” and faced difficulties integrating into South Korean society.
In 2000, he rejected an opportunity to return to the North, fearing it would symbolize a win for American influences in South Korea. He viewed the US-South Korea alliance as an impediment to true reunification. Mr. Ahn’s conviction is shaped by his upbringing during Japanese colonial rule and the subsequent two Koreas' division, leading him to label American presence in South Korea as a new form of colonialism.
Even after decades, Mr. Ahn’s heart remains attached to the North. He denied the severity of human rights abuses there and criticized the portrayal of North Korea in the media, insisting the country thrives under Kim’s leadership.
The changes in both Koreas over the years are stark; South Korea has transformed into a prosperous democracy while North Korea grapples with poverty. Nonetheless, Mr. Ahn’s unyielding beliefs resonate deeply as he continues to protest against what he sees as ongoing colonial oppression. "I don’t want to be buried under [American] colonialism even in death," he poignantly declared, underlining a lifetime dedicated to a belief in independence.
