A 95-Year-Old POW's Final Wish: A Journey Back to North Korea

Despite his desire, Ahn Hak-sop was denied entry back to North Korea, reflecting profound beliefs shaped by his experiences during and after the Korean War. Ahn, who endured imprisonment and maintained allegiance to North Korean ideology, continues to voice his views on imperialism and national identity.

On a scorching day earlier this week, a significant crowd gathered at Imjingang Station, Seoul’s last subway stop before North Korea. The attendees included numerous activists and police officers, all eyes focused on one individual: Ahn Hak-sop, a 95-year-old former prisoner of war yearning to cross the border for what he considered his final journey. After residing in South Korea against his will for most of his life, Ahn envisioned returning to North Korea for burial. However, he was turned away, as the government cited insufficient time to make necessary arrangements.

Weakened by pulmonary edema, Ahn struggled with the 30-minute walk to the Unification Bridge. Instead, he exited the vehicle about 200 meters from the bridge and completed the last portion on foot with the help of two supporters. He held up a North Korean flag—an unexpected and stark image in South Korea—and addressed his supporters and reporters, stating, "I just want my body to rest in a truly independent land, free from imperialism."

At just 23, Ahn was captured by South Korean forces during the Korean War. He enlisted in the North Korean army believing in the cause of reunification propagated by Kim Il-sung. After being imprisoned in 1953, he spent more than four decades behind bars. Upon his release, he struggled to find acceptance and employment due to his "redhead" label—a term used to derogate those with perceived communist sympathies. Though he married and fostered a child during his decades in South Korea, he always felt like an outsider.

In the year 2000, Ahn declined an opportunity to return to North Korea, hoping for improved relations between the North and South. He considered returning as a concession to American forces in South Korea. Ahn has consistently believed that the impediment to reunification lies with "imperialist America" and the South Korean government’s allegiance to it.

Ahn's sense of patriotism was nurtured in his early years. Born in 1930 during Japan's colonial rule, he grew up without formal education due to his grandfather's fears of assimilation. After World War Two, he and his brother sought shelter. Despite the declared liberation in 1945, Ahn regarded the transition as merely a swap of colonial powers, predicting a future dominated by U.S. military governance.

The world around him has changed dramatically—the North has developed under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, the grandson of Kim Il-sung, while South Korea has shifted from military dictatorship to a vibrant democracy. Yet, Ahn's beliefs remain steadfast; he continues to advocate against what he sees as ongoing American colonialism in South Korea. For Ahn, death under what he perceives as U.S. hegemony is not an option. Moreover, he rallies against the narrative surrounding North Korea, asserting that the media only portrays its negatives.

Ahn Hak-sop's journey encapsulates a complex tapestry of history, nationalism, and deeply-held beliefs shaped by past traumas and political realities that continue to define the Korean peninsula.