9/28/11 South Korea (DI) – The campaign to rescue South Korean Shin Sook-ja and her daughters, who have been detained in North Korea for 35 years, is spreading across South Korea.
Since The Dong-A Ilbo introduced their plight on Aug. 3, the campaign for their rescue has gained the spotlight.
Hyundai Church in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, is leading the campaign. The church said Tuesday, “A combined 75,000 people joined a signature drive in just four months, and we expect the number to top 100,000 by next month.”
One out of six Tongyeong residents joined the signing. From Sept. 19 to 23, 7,000 students and teachers hopped on the bandwagon at Masan University in Changwon, Shin`s alma mater, and Jeil Girls Junior High School, Jeil Girls High School and Jeil High School.
Shin’s husband Oh Kil-nam, 69, also attended the signing event at Masan University on Sept. 22, showing photos of her and explaining how they were detained.
On May 25, the signing campaign started in Tongyeong with 22,000 people, or 16 percent of the city`s population, participating. Hundreds of people visit Hyundai Church every day to see photos of Shin’s family, their stories, and the situation of North Korea’s concentration camps.
A church source said, “Three hundred people at the church are following the Rev. Bang Su-yeol`s campaign to rescue Shin and her daughters. I hope Shin’s family can come to Tongyeong by Christmas.”
Signature campaigns, exhibitions and prayer events are being held across the country. Exhibitions on Shin were held at Gyeongsang National University from May 25 through June 19 and Hindol Church in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province from July 4 through 18.
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Rev. Bang said, “The rescue campaign for Shin and her daughters is part of a campaign for the human rights of North Koreans and reunification plans. The government and lawmakers should pay interest to this issue.”
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