Seoul, Republic of Korea - Aug 16, 2018 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Paik Seong-yeon, family reunion participant, Paik's husband, talking with reporter
2. Hand-drawing map of Paik's village
3. Various of Paik, Paik's husband, reporter, talking
4. Calender
5. Various of Paik, Paik's husband, reporter, talking
6. Sheet of Paik's family members in DPRK
7. Paik's husband showing reporter documents
8. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Paik Seong-yeon, family reunion participant (ending with shot 9):
"[I want to ask is] how and when did mom pass away. What happened to grandma and grandpa? All I can ask about is how they have lived. What else would we have in common to talk about because we didn't grow up together."
9. Various of Paik, Paik's husband packaging stuff for family members in DPRK
10. Suitcase full with stuff for Paik's family members in DPRK
11. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Paik Seong-yeon, family reunion participant:
"After we meet our family members in the DPRK, they should let us exchange letters or travel back and forth. All I want is the opportunity to meet each other. That's it. What else could I ask for?"
12. Various of Paik walking with husband

Dozens of elderly from the Republic of Korea (ROK) have longed for the day when they are allowed to cross the heavily fortified border of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to meet with relatives and loved ones they have been separated from since the Korean War.

The war divided the Korean peninsula and millions of people were swept apart by the war, separating brothers and sisters, parents and children and husband and wives.

As relations between the ROK and DPRK have improved since the beginning of the year, the two sides have organized reunions for these family members to reunite with their long-separated loved ones.

The upcoming family reunion is the first of its kind in nearly five years and Paik Seong-yeon, 84-year-old, is one of the few that was selected to be able to meet with her relatives.

Paik grew up in a small, rural town in present-day DPRK. Her village of about 20 houses was sandwiched between two mountains with a stream passing through. Paik recalled her good old days as she would catch crayfish and played with her friends.

The last time Paik saw her family was in 1951 at the height of the Korean War when she was separated amid a rush to escape the fighting.

When Paik heard that she was selected to participate in family reunions, the family reunion participant was elated but unfortunately, she will be meeting her siblings' spouses and their children as her parents and siblings have since passed away.

"[I want to ask is] how and when did mom pass away. What happened to grandma and grandpa? All I can ask about is how they have lived. What else would we have in common to talk about because we didn't grow up together," said Paik.

The ROK and DPRK have held 20 rounds of reunions since 2000, but the latest round will be the first in nearly five years. Leaders from the two sides agreed in April to resume family reunions, noting the urgency for those separated.

Being chosen to take part in these family reunions is like winning the lottery. Since the late-1980s, more than 132,000 South Koreans have registered but fewer than two percent have had a chance to reunite.

Time is of the essence because for the first time the number of people on the government registry that have since passed away has surpassed the number of those still alive.

Paik has prepared some garments and long underwear for her extended family members. She will only have several hours over a span of three days to make up for lost time.

After that, it's back to life on opposite sides of the border.

"After we meet our family members in the DPRK, they should let us exchange letters or travel back and forth. All I want is the opportunity to meet each other. That's it. What else could I ask for?" said Paik.

Accompanying Paik to the reunion will be her husband of more than 50 years.

He's the only family she's known since the day she was separated.