- Former KBS announcer Lee Ji-yeon, host of “Finding Dispersed Families” 

“Finding Dispersed Families” was one of the special programs planned to mark the 30th anniversary of the North-South armistice in 1983. Intended to air for only 90 minutes on the night of June 30th, it was extended to 2:30 a.m. the following morning due to the explosive response from the war-torn families. 

People's high level interest prompted KBS to suspend regular programming and continue airing the special live program. Moving reunions occurred every day, and the front of the KBS building became a so-called ‘plaza of reunions’ taking applications from dispersed-family members.

The broadcast continued for 138 days, and roughly 10,000 out of 100,000 cases found their family members. The archives, which include 463 videotapes and other broadcast memorabilia, were entered into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The program was recognized for reporting the tragedies of war and containing universal sentiments of mankind.  

KBS' Special Live Broadcast “Finding Dispersed Families” is recognized as a part of the Cold War peace movement, and it remains an example of a public broadcaster pursuing the public interest and taking on a social role.