On 25 January 1970, a delegation of the Committee left for Geneva in order to campaign at headquarters of the
International Committee of Red Cross. Furthermore, the delegation visited England, France, Italy and India to
petition for the freedom of the abductees.
On 14 February 1970, 39 out of 50 abductees were repatriated to South Korea through Panmunjum on the 38
parallel, while 11 abductees were detained in the North, including Mr. Hwang.
On 25 February 1970, the Korea Federation of Teacher's Associations launched a nation-wide signature
campaign, which involved approximately 150,000 teachers and 8,000,000 students to collect signatures from
the public for the release of the 11 detainees. Moreover, the federation contacted the World Confederation of
Organizations of the Teaching Profession in order to raise the international awareness of the issue and urge the
international community to take action against the unjust abduction and the detainment of the South Koreans.
On 9 May 1970, the Civilian Committee visited allying countries and the International Committee of the Red
Cross for lobbying activities for the 11 abductees who have not returned.
On 6 November 1970, 32 member states of the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly, including the
Philippines, Japan, Thailand and the United Kingdom, officially recognized DPRK’s abduction and filed a
resolution condemning the hijacking of KAL YS-11 and the detainment of a South Korean aircraft and the
civilians.
On 7 November 1970, South Korean UN Ambassador Yong-sik Kim lobbied Paul Bamela Engo, the UN Chair
for Cameroon who is in charge of reviewing the KAL YS-11 abduction for the Sixth Committee of the UN
General Assembly, for rapid release of the illegally detained South Korean civilians.
In June 1998, the Korean Air (KAL) Flight YS-11 Families Committee was established and urged the Ministry
of Unification to communicate with the DPRK government and requested information on whereabouts of the 11
abductees. However, the committee was unable to receive response upon its request. On 11 December 1998, the
committee organized a public screening of a documentary on the hijacking incident and reminded the public of
the 11 non-returned passengers and flight crew members.
(c) If action was not possible, please explain why:
N/A
6. Identity of the person or organization submitting the report (*):
(a) Family name: Yoon
(b) First name: Benjamin H.
(c) Relationship with the disappeared person: Representative of the entrusted organization
(d) Organization (if applicable, see also below): Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights
(e) Address (telephone, fax, e-mail): (110-090) 3F Shimji bldg., 10-22 Gyobuk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul,
Republic of Korea / [T] +82-2-723-1672, 2671 / [F] +82-2-723-1671 / nkhr@naver.com,
citizens.nkhr@gmail.com
(f) Please state whether you would like your identity to be kept confidential