Separated families legislation complicated

It is predicted that the meetings of and the expansion of exchanges involving separated families will give rise to some complex problems regarding family relationships and inheritance centered on census registration.

The request for census registration correction submitted by Kim Jae-Hwan, who confirmed the fact that his younger brother abducted to North Korea is still living there July 27, is a fundamental case related to this matter.

Legal circles believe that there should be no problem according to the law now in force for those who were kidnapped to the North or for family members left in the North by people who fled South to recover their census registration if they are confirmed to be alive.

According to a report on North Korea`s family law published by the Supreme Court, in the case of those who reported the death of a family member kidnapped to the North the census registration can be corrected, and in the case of those who declared their relative missing, the census register can be revived after a declaration cancellation procedure is completed.