Around half of the South Koreans who had applied for a reunion with long lost family members in North Korea are found to have died without seeing their loved ones across the border.

According to an integrated information system for separated families operated by the Unification Ministry and the Red Cross, 130-thousand-800 South Koreans applied to reunite with their North Korean relatives as of late last year.

Of this total, 65-thousand or 49-point-eight percent have passed away without a reunion.

Among the survivors, 57 percent are over 80 years old with those 90 and older making up just under 14 percent. Time is running out for the elderly applicants.

The proportion of the deceased among reunion applicants is also growing each year, posting 38-point-seven percent in 2011 and 44-point-seven percent in 2013.