Latest news with #hope
CNN
2 hours ago
- General
- CNN
75 years after he was kidnapped to North Korea, these sisters still hope to see their brother
Min Young-jae has not seen or heard anything about her eldest brother for 75 years. He was 19 and she was only 2 when, during the early days of the Korean War, he was kidnapped to the North. 'We were known in the neighborhood as a happy family,' the now 77-year-old told CNN, as her older sister Min Jeong-ja nodded in agreement. Their peaceful days were shattered on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded the South. The three-year war would kill more than 847,000 troops and about 522,000 civilians from both sides, and tear apart more than 100,000 families, including Min's. After the war, the family kept the rusting doors of their tile-roofed house open, in hopes that their eldest would one day return. But over time, barbed wire has been installed between the two Koreas, and a modern apartment complex has replaced the house. Though 75 years have passed without a single word about or from the brother, Min and her siblings remain hopeful that they will hear about him some day. Or, if not him, then his children or grandchildren. The family lived in Dangnim village, nestled between green mountains on the western side of Chuncheon city, nearly 100 kilometers northeast of Seoul. It was a village of chirping birds, streaming water and chugging tractors. It was also dangerously close to the 38th parallel, which divided the peninsula after World War II. Min Young-jae, the youngest of seven, does not remember fighting with any of her siblings growing up; only sharing tofu that her parents made, splashing in the stream and being carried around on her eldest brother's shoulders. Handsome, kind and smart, Min Young-sun was studying at the Chuncheon National University of Education, following in the footsteps of his father, the principal of Dangnim Elementary School. 'His nickname was 'Math Whiz.' He excelled in math, even his classmates called him Math Whiz,' Min Jeong-ja, the fifth child of the family, said. Some days, students followed him all the way home, as he commuted via train and boat, asking him to teach math, the sisters recalled. The sisters remember Min Young-sun as a caring brother. They caught fish and splashed in the nearby stream, now widely covered with reeds and weeds and almost out of water. 'We grew up in real happiness,' Min Jeong-ja said. Living near the frontier between the newly separated Koreas – backed by the rival ideological forces of communism or capitalism – Min's family was among the first to experience the horrors of the Korean War. When Kim Il Sung's North Korean troops invaded, Min Jeong-ja remembers seeing her grandmother running in tears, with a cow in tow, screaming: 'We're in a war!' 'We all spread out and hid in the mountains, because we were scared. One day, we hid the 4-year-old, Young-jae, in the bushes and forgot to bring her back because we had so many siblings. When we returned that night, she was still there, not even crying,' Min Jeong-ja said. While the family was running in and out of the mountains, taking shelter from the troops coming from the North, Min Young-sun was kidnapped, taken to the North by his teacher. 'The teacher gathered smart students and hauled them (away). He took several students, tens of them. Took them to the North,' Min Jeong-ja said. It is unknown why the teacher would have kidnapped the students to North Korea, but the South Korean government assumes that Pyongyang had abducted South Koreans to supplement its military. 'People called the teacher a commie,' Min Jeong-ja said. That heartache was soon followed by another: the death of the second-eldest brother. He died of shock and pain, in deep sorrow from the kidnap of his brother, according to the sisters. 'The grief was huge. Our parents lost two sons… imagine how heartbreaking that would be,' Min Jeong-ja said. For their father, the pain of losing two sons was overwhelming. He developed a panic disorder, she said, and would struggle to work for the rest of his life. 'He couldn't go outside; he stayed home all the time. And because he was hugely shocked, he struggled going through day-to-day life. So, our mom went out (to work) and suffered a lot,' Min Young-jae said. The mother jumped into earning a living for the remaining five children and her husband. Still, every morning she prayed for Min Young-sun, filling a bowl with pure water as part of a Korean folk ritual and leaving the first scoop of the family's rice serving that day in a bowl for a son whom she believed would return one day. 'She couldn't move house; in case the brother cannot find his way back home. She wouldn't let us change anything of the house, not even the doors. That's how she waited for him… We waited for so long, and time just passed,' Min Jeong-ja said. Min Jeong-ja was 8 years old when the war started, but witnessed brutality that would overwhelm many adults. 'So many kids died. When I went out to the river to wash clothes, I occasionally saw bodies of children floating,' she recalled. She remembers witnessing North Korean soldiers lining up people in a barley field, and shooting at them with submachine guns. 'Then one by one, they fell on the barley field.' 'I saw too much. At one point – I didn't even know if the soldier was a South Korean or North Korean – but I saw beheaded remains.' The Min family is one of many torn apart by the war. More than 134,000 people are still waiting to hear from their loved ones believed to be in North Korea, which is now one of the world's most reclusive states, with travel between the two countries nigh-on impossible. Years after the Korean War, the two Koreas discussed organizing reunions for the separated families that have been identified from both sides through the Red Cross and both governments. The first reunion happened in 1985, more than 30 years after the ceasefire agreement was signed, and the annual reunions kicked off in 2000, when many first-hand war victims were still alive, but occasionally halted when tensions escalated on the peninsula. Once the two governments agree on a reunion date, one of the two Koreas selects families, prioritizing the elderly and immediate relatives, then shares the list with the other, which would cross check the family on its side to confirm the list of around 100 members. The selected families would meet at an office specifically built for reunions at the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea. The Min siblings applied to the Red Cross at least five times and listed themselves under the South Korean government as a separated family. But there was never any word on their brother's whereabouts from the other side. As 75 years passed, the siblings grew up, got married, and formed their own families – but questions about their stolen brother linger. Even worse, the annual reunions of separated families have been halted since 2018, following failed summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, while first-hand victims of the war age and pass away. The Kumgang resort was dismantled by the North in 2022, also amid strained tensions. But the siblings, following their parents' wishes, still hope to connect with Min Young-sun, who would now be 94 years old. 'My brother Young-sun, it's already been 75 years,' Min Young-jae said into a CNN camera, taking her glasses off so that he would recognize his sister's face. 'It's been a long time since we were separated, but I would be so grateful if you're alive. And if you're not, I still would love to meet your children. I want to share the love of family, remembering the happy days of the past… I love you, thank you.' She and the siblings remember the kidnapped brother by singing his favorite song, 'Thinking of My Brother,' a children's song about a brother that never returned. 'My brother, you said you would come back from Seoul with silk shoes,' Min Young-jae sang, while her sister wiped away tears.
CNN
2 hours ago
- General
- CNN
75 years after he was kidnapped to North Korea, these sisters still hope to see their brother
Min Young-jae has not seen or heard anything about her eldest brother for 75 years. He was 19 and she was only 2 when, during the early days of the Korean War, he was kidnapped to the North. 'We were known in the neighborhood as a happy family,' the now 77-year-old told CNN, as her older sister Min Jeong-ja nodded in agreement. Their peaceful days were shattered on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded the South. The three-year war would kill more than 847,000 troops and about 522,000 civilians from both sides, and tear apart more than 100,000 families, including Min's. After the war, the family kept the rusting doors of their tile-roofed house open, in hopes that their eldest would one day return. But over time, barbed wire has been installed between the two Koreas, and a modern apartment complex has replaced the house. Though 75 years have passed without a single word about or from the brother, Min and her siblings remain hopeful that they will hear about him some day. Or, if not him, then his children or grandchildren. The family lived in Dangnim village, nestled between green mountains on the western side of Chuncheon city, nearly 100 kilometers northeast of Seoul. It was a village of chirping birds, streaming water and chugging tractors. It was also dangerously close to the 38th parallel, which divided the peninsula after World War II. Min Young-jae, the youngest of seven, does not remember fighting with any of her siblings growing up; only sharing tofu that her parents made, splashing in the stream and being carried around on her eldest brother's shoulders. Handsome, kind and smart, Min Young-sun was studying at the Chuncheon National University of Education, following in the footsteps of his father, the principal of Dangnim Elementary School. 'His nickname was 'Math Whiz.' He excelled in math, even his classmates called him Math Whiz,' Min Jeong-ja, the fifth child of the family, said. Some days, students followed him all the way home, as he commuted via train and boat, asking him to teach math, the sisters recalled. The sisters remember Min Young-sun as a caring brother. They caught fish and splashed in the nearby stream, now widely covered with reeds and weeds and almost out of water. 'We grew up in real happiness,' Min Jeong-ja said. Living near the frontier between the newly separated Koreas – backed by the rival ideological forces of communism or capitalism – Min's family was among the first to experience the horrors of the Korean War. When Kim Il Sung's North Korean troops invaded, Min Jeong-ja remembers seeing her grandmother running in tears, with a cow in tow, screaming: 'We're in a war!' 'We all spread out and hid in the mountains, because we were scared. One day, we hid the 4-year-old, Young-jae, in the bushes and forgot to bring her back because we had so many siblings. When we returned that night, she was still there, not even crying,' Min Jeong-ja said. While the family was running in and out of the mountains, taking shelter from the troops coming from the North, Min Young-sun was kidnapped, taken to the North by his teacher. 'The teacher gathered smart students and hauled them (away). He took several students, tens of them. Took them to the North,' Min Jeong-ja said. It is unknown why the teacher would have kidnapped the students to North Korea, but the South Korean government assumes that Pyongyang had abducted South Koreans to supplement its military. 'People called the teacher a commie,' Min Jeong-ja said. That heartache was soon followed by another: the death of the second-eldest brother. He died of shock and pain, in deep sorrow from the kidnap of his brother, according to the sisters. 'The grief was huge. Our parents lost two sons… imagine how heartbreaking that would be,' Min Jeong-ja said. For their father, the pain of losing two sons was overwhelming. He developed a panic disorder, she said, and would struggle to work for the rest of his life. 'He couldn't go outside; he stayed home all the time. And because he was hugely shocked, he struggled going through day-to-day life. So, our mom went out (to work) and suffered a lot,' Min Young-jae said. The mother jumped into earning a living for the remaining five children and her husband. Still, every morning she prayed for Min Young-sun, filling a bowl with pure water as part of a Korean folk ritual and leaving the first scoop of the family's rice serving that day in a bowl for a son whom she believed would return one day. 'She couldn't move house; in case the brother cannot find his way back home. She wouldn't let us change anything of the house, not even the doors. That's how she waited for him… We waited for so long, and time just passed,' Min Jeong-ja said. Min Jeong-ja was 8 years old when the war started, but witnessed brutality that would overwhelm many adults. 'So many kids died. When I went out to the river to wash clothes, I occasionally saw bodies of children floating,' she recalled. She remembers witnessing North Korean soldiers lining up people in a barley field, and shooting at them with submachine guns. 'Then one by one, they fell on the barley field.' 'I saw too much. At one point – I didn't even know if the soldier was a South Korean or North Korean – but I saw beheaded remains.' The Min family is one of many torn apart by the war. More than 134,000 people are still waiting to hear from their loved ones believed to be in North Korea, which is now one of the world's most reclusive states, with travel between the two countries nigh-on impossible. Years after the Korean War, the two Koreas discussed organizing reunions for the separated families that have been identified from both sides through the Red Cross and both governments. The first reunion happened in 1985, more than 30 years after the ceasefire agreement was signed, and the annual reunions kicked off in 2000, when many first-hand war victims were still alive, but occasionally halted when tensions escalated on the peninsula. Once the two governments agree on a reunion date, one of the two Koreas selects families, prioritizing the elderly and immediate relatives, then shares the list with the other, which would cross check the family on its side to confirm the list of around 100 members. The selected families would meet at an office specifically built for reunions at the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea. The Min siblings applied to the Red Cross at least five times and listed themselves under the South Korean government as a separated family. But there was never any word on their brother's whereabouts from the other side. As 75 years passed, the siblings grew up, got married, and formed their own families – but questions about their stolen brother linger. Even worse, the annual reunions of separated families have been halted since 2018, following failed summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, while first-hand victims of the war age and pass away. The Kumgang resort was dismantled by the North in 2022, also amid strained tensions. But the siblings, following their parents' wishes, still hope to connect with Min Young-sun, who would now be 94 years old. 'My brother Young-sun, it's already been 75 years,' Min Young-jae said into a CNN camera, taking her glasses off so that he would recognize his sister's face. 'It's been a long time since we were separated, but I would be so grateful if you're alive. And if you're not, I still would love to meet your children. I want to share the love of family, remembering the happy days of the past… I love you, thank you.' She and the siblings remember the kidnapped brother by singing his favorite song, 'Thinking of My Brother,' a children's song about a brother that never returned. 'My brother, you said you would come back from Seoul with silk shoes,' Min Young-jae sang, while her sister wiped away tears.
Fast Company
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Why ‘The Shawshank Redemption' is the best movie about investing ever made
The 1994 Frank Darabont film The Shawshank Redemption may be everyone's favorite movie to catch on TNT on a rainy Saturday, but it's not an obvious place to go looking for money lessons. This quiet film is a meditation on the power of hope to change lives—which hardly seems like a message one can expect from financial professionals (ahem). Yet, the story of Andy Dufresne's time in (and spectacular escape from) the Shawshank State Prison provides a blueprint for smart financial choices. And the story of how the film itself gained traction despite a lackluster initial reception can also teach us important money lessons. What we see: a rock hammer and weekly correspondence Following his wrongful conviction for murder, Andy Dufresne arrives at Shawshank to serve two consecutive life sentences. He befriends another lifer, Red, who runs an illicit smuggling business. Andy asks him to procure a rock hammer and a large Rita Hayworth poster. (The movie, of course, springs from the 1982 Stephen King novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.) Andy claims that he wants the rock hammer for carving, and he does indeed create small sculptures with it. But that's not all he uses it for. By the end of the film, we learn that Andy has spent 19 years digging a tunnel through his wall with the hammer, using the poster to cover up his work. Despite the rock hammer being a tiny tool for work of that magnitude, Andy never gives up his slow, diligent, and methodical approach to escaping. Andy is equally methodical in his efforts to improve the decrepit prison library. He sends weekly requests to the Maine state legislature for funds to buy used books. After years of relentless effort, Andy secures a $500 annual appropriation for the prison library, granted by the state 'just to shut him up.' What we learn: be methodical with whatever tools you have Part of what makes Andy Dufresne extraordinary is his ability to take the long view. Most of his fellow inmates lose themselves in dreary thinking about their imprisonment, but Andy sees an investment opportunity. He recognizes time as a tool. He doesn't have freedom in Shawshank, but he can take advantage of time in a way people on the outside can't. By recognizing that time works differently on the inside, Andy is able to use the very punishment he's been given as a way to maintain his hope and persist with projects. Warning: This scene contains coarse language. What we see: confronting Hadley and becoming Randall Stephens A few years into his time at Shawshank, while working with a crew of inmates to tar the prison roofs, Andy overhears Captain Hadley, the brutal and vicious lead guard, complaining about having to pay taxes on a $35,000 inheritance. Andy recklessly approaches Hadley and him if he trusts his wife. Hadley responds to the impudent question by rushing Andy to the edge of the roof to toss him to his death, but Andy saves himself by saying he knows how Hadley can minimize taxes on the inheritance. Andy becomes the unofficial CPA for the prison staff, and as the years pass, Andy also starts helping the warden launder money using his skills with accounting. He also secretly creates a fictitious identity, a businessman named Randall Stephens. When he escapes Shawshank at the film's climax, he steals all of the warden's laundered money by posing as Stephens at the bank and withdrawing all of the ill-gotten gains. What we learn: know when and how to take risks Ignoring the advice of his inmate pals, Andy risks his life to gain leverage with Hadley. The only immediate reward is a case of cold beer for the rooftop work crew. But Andy is thinking longer-term, as he is from the very first moments of Shawshank Redemption. The risky gambit leads to work that better suits his knowledge and intelligence, providing new opportunities. His construction of Randall Stephens is equally risky. He knows that the money he is withdrawing is laundered, that Stephens doesn't exist, and that his absence from his cell has probably already been discovered. Though Andy never broke the law before he went to prison, he does so when inhabiting the Stephens persona he invented. But like the risk of confronting Hadley, pretending to be Stephens is calculated. Andy prepares everything he needs to pull off the ruse ahead of time, using his knowledge and intelligence to mitigate the risk. The lesson? Risk-taking makes sense when we're well-prepared and set up for success. What we see: a box-office bomb becomes universally beloved The Shawshank Redemption famously tanked at the box office, initially earning a measly $16 million against a $25 million budget. Though it was nominated for (and lost) seven academy awards and lauded by critics, the studio had no idea how to market a character study set in a mid-century prison and audiences were apparently confused by the film's (admittedly baffling) title. Then a funny thing happened on the way to certain obscurity: The Shawshank Redemption slowly found its audience. But unlike many other box-office failures that became cult classics, this film didn't just appeal to a niche audience. Over the past 30 years, it has become recognized as one of the best movies ever made and consistently tops IMDB's list of favorite films. Just as Andy diligently works at tunneling through his wall, building the prison library, stealing the warden's laundered money, and making himself indispensable to his best friend Red over a period of nearly two decades, the film showcasing Andy's story also took its time to garner the appreciation it deserves. What we learn: proof of concept can take time We tend to want instant results as a culture, especially when it comes to investing—and Hollywood is one of the worst offenders. If a film doesn't make major bank in its opening weekend, studios may be willing to write it off. Frank Darabont, Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, and the rest of the professionals who worked on The Shawshank Redemption believed in it and gave it their all. The lackluster initial reception must have been incredibly disappointing. But the film is much more than its first three months' revenue, as Shawshank 's enduring popularity has proved. Honestly, we need to increase our time horizon for all types of investments, not just Hollywood movies. When it comes to financial investments, quick returns are typically the province of scams (like the warden's money laundering) or luck (which you can't prepare for). Andy's example makes it clear that you should try to invest like the quiet, falsely convicted banker. He does his homework, invests in something he believes in, does as much preparation as possible, recognizes when to take a risk, and uses time to his advantage. For other types of investments, from your own pursuits to building a business, take a page from the success of The Shawshank Redemption. The right combination of diligence and patience remains the most predictable investment strategy. The extended deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is this Friday, June 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Ruler sponsors life-saving cancer treatment for 15-year-old girl
When 15-year-old Fatima Ahmed Hassan was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer, she and her family were overwhelmed, until hope came from the highest level. "Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum sponsored my entire treatment,' Fatima said, her voice filled with emotion. 'That changed everything. His kindness gave me back my hope, my health, and my dreams.' Fatima's journey of survival was one of the many powerful stories shared during an event held by the Emirates Oncology Society at Dubai's Museum of the Future to honour 100 cancer survivors from 25 hospitals across the UAE recently. The ceremony was part of National Cancer Survivors Month, celebrating lives saved through early detection, expert care, and emotional support. After months of intensive treatment, Fatima is now cancer-free. Her experience has inspired her to pursue a career as a nurse. 'I want to help others the way nurses helped me,' she said. 'Only someone who's felt the same pain truly understands.' 11-year-old warrior aiming to become a footballer For Hamdan Saeed Al Falasi, an 11-year-old leukemia survivor, it all started with bone pain. 'We thought it was from playing sports,' said his mother. 'But when it didn't go away, we knew something was wrong.' A series of tests confirmed leukemia. 'Thanks to early diagnosis and incredible doctors, my son is now healthy and thriving,' she said. 'Parents must never ignore unusual symptoms, early diagnosis saved my son's life.' Hamdan is now back to doing what he loves most, playing football. 'I'm so happy to be healthy again and back to playing. I want to become a doctor in the future to help others like my doctors helped me,' he said. Doctor becomes the patient Dr Hind Salama, a dentist and mother of two from Gaza, Palestine, had no symptoms at all when a routine check-up in 2023 detected breast cancer. 'When doctors asked if I wanted to go home for treatment, I told them, 'This is my home. I want to be treated here,' she said. 'The UAE gave me everything, without distinction.' Chemotherapy was the most difficult part, but support from her family and medical team got her through. She now urges others, especially women, to undergo regular screenings. Fighting rare cancers Mustafa Osama, 23, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, two years ago. 'It was emotionally overwhelming,' he said. 'But from the moment I entered the UAE's healthcare system, I knew I was in safe hands.' 'Even though my cancer was rare, I found specialists who treated me with compassion and expertise. I haven't seen this level of professionalism anywhere else.' The event highlighted the UAE's inclusive approach to healthcare. Survivors praised the country for offering equal access to cutting-edge treatments and compassionate care, regardless of nationality or background. 'The UAE doesn't treat you like a case file,' said one survivor. 'It treats you as a human being, with dignity and empathy.' Vision for the future Prof Humaid Al Shamsi, president of the Emirates Oncology Society, said the event was a celebration of resilience and a reflection of the UAE's ongoing commitment to world-class cancer care. 'This is not just about honouring survivors,' he said. 'It's about reaffirming our dedication to research, innovation, and early detection, so more families can hear the words - 'You are cancer-free,'' said Prof. Al Shamsi.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Strengthening safe blood supply to help save lives
In line with this year's theme marking the World Blood Donor Day celebrated on 14 June the South Sudan National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) conducted several activities. With support from World Health Organization (WHO) and the Red Cross, NBTS organized a blood donation campaign and drive to raise awareness of the life-saving role of blood and plasma donation and to encourage regular donation from first-time and long-term donors. Additionally, NBTS held a round table with leaders from the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Laboratory, the Red Cross, and the community to advocate for more support for sustainable national blood programs and promote values of compassion, community and solidarity. The theme for this year is 'Give blood, give hope: together we save lives'. It encapsulates the essence of blood donation and highlights the power of community and solidarity in saving lives. Blood and blood products are essential life-saving medicines, without a substitute. One blood donation often saves three lives. At the global level, blood is needed to save 14 million lives of mothers involved in childbirth annually, while South Sudan needs blood for mothers during childbirth, traumatic injuries, and babies and children with severe anaemia, malnutrition, and severe malaria. From the blood donation campaign and drive, 86 units of blood were collected from 54 long-term donors and 32 new donors that will save lives of those in need. The campaign also featured an awareness and advocacy component, with the participation of various stakeholders, including high-level government officials." Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative to South Sudan commended the Ministry of Health's efforts and reaffirm WHO's commitment to collaborate with the NBTS and partners to improve the provision of essential healthcare services, including blood transfusion services. 'WHO has been working closely with the Ministry of Health, specifically the NBTS to streamline and promote blood transfusion services' Said Dr Karamagi 'Going forward, WHO will support NBTS in reviewing and updating the strategic plan and implementation guidelines, enhancing their capacity to provide blood transfusion services, and increase availability of blood products through the Health Sector Transformation (HSTP) Project' 'This partnership shows that when we work together, we can overcome critical gaps in ensuring there is a safe and adequate blood supply. The blood collected will directly save lives in our health facilities,' said Dr. Angelo Aruop Akeen, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Services. WHO staff who volunteered to donate described the experience as meaningful and fulfilling. 'Knowing that a small act like this can make a difference in someone's survival is deeply motivating,' said Dr Bayo Pontius, Reproductive, Maternal and Neonatal Health Officer, one of the WHO staff who participated in the drive. 'This is a powerful reminder that each of us can contribute to saving lives.' Every drop counts! 'A blood donation can save a mother, a baby, a future.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - South Sudan.
