The Red Cross of South Korea has selected 500 preliminary candidates for inter-Korean family reunions that are slated to take place next month. 
 
The Korean Red Cross held a selection committee meeting on Wednesday at its headquarters in Seoul, where it determined the criteria for preliminary candidates.
 
The organization then selected 500 applicants through a computer lottery, with priority given to the elderly and those with direct family members in the North.  
 
The Red Cross will check on the health of the candidates and their inclination to attend the reunions before narrowing down the number.
 
It will then give a list of 250 candidates to North Korea to confirm the living status of northern relatives.
 
Following the process, a list of 100 candidates will be finalized to attend the reunions at Mount Geumgang from October 20 to 26.
 
Earlier this week, Red Cross delegations from the two Koreas agreed to hold reunions next month and set a timeline for the reunion process in a marathon meeting at the truce village of Panmunjeom.