On a vivid morning at Imjingang Station, a crowd awaited the arrival of Ahn Hak-sop, a 95-year-old former prisoner of war from North Korea. After decades in South Korea, Ahn considered this trip his last chance to return home for a burial. However, he was denied passage after the South Korean government stated they couldn’t facilitate the trip in time. Despite being weakened by health issues, Ahn made a 200-meter walk towards the border, proudly holding a North Korean flag—a rare sight in the South.
Ahn was captured in 1953 during the Korean War, just prior to the armistice, and spent 42 years incarcerated. The struggles he faced didn't end upon release, as he experienced discrimination and emotional turmoil, feeling he never truly belonged in South Korea. Once optimistic about future reunification, Ahn in 2000 opted to remain in the South, fearing a return would surrender his home to the Americans.
Born during Japan's colonization of Korea, Ahn's nationalistic beliefs were shaped by his early experiences, including viewing the post-war U.S. military presence as another form of colonialism. Captured as a North Korean soldier, he refused to renounce his ideals despite torture, arguing that such a price was too high.
As he rallied on the border, Ahn remained passionately unyielding, convinced of the U.S. influence hindering Korean reunification. He bemoaned South Korea's shift toward democracy while still viewing it as subordinate to American interests. His protest will not end until he can claim a burial in what he believes is truly independent ground.
