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KBS Special Live Broadcast "Finding Dispersed Families" “The records of the 138 days in 1983, when the whole world was in tears”

This was the world’s first large-scale program dedicated to reuniting dispersed families.
The program showed, through videos, the pain and hardship of ordinary people torn by war and division. The sight of families reuniting in tears and weeping in each other’s arms touched the hearts of those living on the divided Peninsula. The program served as a catalyst leading up to the first ever South-North family reunion (Sept. 1985) and contributed to easing tension during the Cold War.

dispersedFamiliesDocumentarys
The Archives
Some 463 original videotape recordings (digital betacam) of the KBS Special Live Broadcast “Finding Dispersed Families”.
Some 20,522 pieces of related records: producers’ journals, applications submitted by families, broadcast ephemera, audiotapes, photographs etc. Photographs of families being reunited and other photos taken on-site. Photographs of families being reunited and other photos taken on-site.
Broadcast date and time
From 10:15pm on June 30, 1983 to 4am on November 14, 1983
(138 days, 453 hours, 45 minutes)
Summary
A total of 100,952 applications submitted by dispersed families and 53,536 applicants introduced on air.
A total of 10,189 people had found their long-lost kin by the morning of November 14, 1983.
The first and the biggest scale program dedicated to finding dispersed families utilizing television.
Named the "Most Humanitarian Program of 1983” by journalists at the 6th World Media Conference.
Received the Gold Mercury International Ad Honorem award (1984), generally granted to individuals or organizations that have made a contribution to world peace.
Considered one of the most active contributions to raising awareness of the importance of human rights and peace.
  • Number of Applicants : 100,952
  • Live broadcast hours : 20,522
  • Number of program participants : 53,536
  • Number of reunited families : 10,189