The Ministry of Justice says it will allow family members to get immigration clearance on behalf of participants in the upcoming reunion of the war-separated families.

The ministry said Vice Justice Minister Kim Oh-soo visited the inter-Korean immigration office near South Korea's east coast on Friday and instructed officials there to help family reunion participants get through customs clearance swiftly and conveniently for the next week’s events. 

If any of the participants feel it is too difficult to visit the immigration office because of their health, they will be allowed to send their family members instead. 

The ministry will also put in place an around-the-clock working system in case some of the participants need to return to the South in the middle of the reunion events due to urgent medical problems. 

The first round of the reunions to be held between Monday and Wednesday will bring together 89 South Koreans and their families in the North, while the second round will see meetings between 83 North Koreans and their South Korean families between Friday and Sunday.