A resident of Sokcho, Gangwon Province, has donated his property to the city, where he wished to live with his mother left in North Korea 61 years ago.

Kim Cheol-seop, 75, gave the 596-square-meter property valued at 190 million won ($178,605) to Sokcho last month in the hopes that the property would be used to help the elderly.

Kim has lived in the city since 1953 after fleeing from the North with his father in December 1950 during the Korean War.

But he left his mother and sibling in the North thinking he would be able to bring them with him later. However, his plan was dashed by the ceasefire between the two sides and subsequent truce line, which continues to divide the North and South today.

Kim didn’t lose hope that one day he could live with his family in the South and decided to settle in Sokcho, a northern city of Gangwon Province, just an hour-long drive to the truce line. After the war, many people from North Korea were displaced and settled in Sokcho.

Kim has participated in local activities, holding several voluntary posts such as the president of the Sokcho Youth Assembly and Sokcho Athletics Association and continued to contribute to the development of the region.

In 1993 his father passed away. He heard later that his mother in the North had also passed away in March 1992.

Since then, Kim had pondered whether he should keep the property. He asked his family and got consent to donate the land to Sokcho and finished transferring ownership of the property to the city last month.

“I feel sad that I couldn’t bring my parents here and support them, but at the same time I feel at ease knowing that the property will be used for good purpose for the city,” said Kim.

“I hope it will be utilized for welfare facilities for elderly people,” he added.

Sokcho city presented him with an appreciation plaque on July 1.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)