South Korea to Compensate Family of North Korea Abductee

The South Korean government has decided to provide compensation to the family of Ham Jin-woo, who was officially recognized earlier this year as having been abducted by North Korea. The Unification Ministry announced on June 4 that the decision was made following a review by the committee established under the Act on the Compensation and Support for Abduction Victims After the Armistice Agreement.

Ham Jin-woo, who obtained South Korean nationality in December 2025, has not returned from North Korea since then. He is now classified as one of the "detainees" in North Korea. The compensation amount varies based on the minimum wage and the duration of the abduction. Ham's family is expected to receive approximately 19 million won (around $13,700).

This decision means that compensation will now be provided to the families of all but one of the seven individuals officially recognized as abductees. The Unification Ministry stated that one abductee has no family in South Korea. The government had previously announced in December of last year its intention to add Ham Jin-woo to the list of abductees, and he was officially classified as being detained in North Korea in early 2026.

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One North Korean resident who has not returned from North Korean territory since acquiring our nationality in December 2025 was additionally classified as a detainee after consultation with relevant ministries.