Selection for reunions strives for fairness

A controversy has developed over the fairness of the procedure followed by the Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) in selecting candidates for the third round of family reunions between South and North Korea.

The Red Cross selection committee met here Thursday and decided to include in the coming family visitations up to 12 persons or 6 percent of the total 200 as recommended by the Central Federation of Residents from Northern Provinces out of "policy considerations."

The committee meeting, held at the auditorium of the Red Cross headquarters Thursday morning, disclosed that it would give special consideration to those select few people who should not exceed one-tenth of the total for the sake of fair geographical distribution. Four persons, two each representing the families of Southern prisoners of war and of the abductees still held in North Korea, also will be included in the reunion groups.

Lee Byung-Wung, special assistant to the KNRC president, said their inclusion in proportion to the role of the association of separated families seemed relevant and that the federation made a demand for preferential treatment. However, special consideration proposed for the association of the compatriots from the North might look unfair because before this time the candidates had been chosen only by a computer lottery out of more than 103,000 applicants in all.

Objections are likely to come up from other groups similarly involving with separated families against the apparent favor given to that particular federation. On the other hand, Yu Myong-Chol, secretary general of the federation, insisted that the measure is not a favor but is aimed only at facilitating a rapport between the two Koreas.

Computer lots will be drawn to pick the initial batch of 300 candidates Friday out of applicants of advanced ages, in their 70s or older. The names of the 200 finalists to be chosen at the next committee session Jan. 19 are to be given to North Korea later. The remaining 100 who are included in the roster of 300 but dropped in the final choice will be reserved for further verification and location.