By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Wendy Palomo from the Philippines

I came across an old photo I took of a random old woman at the Namsangol Hanok Village a few years ago. The photo made me look back at my years here in Korea and how I continue to look up to Korea's older generation. The Korean word halmeoni means grandmother. Like all grandmothers all over the world, they come to us in different forms: regal, haughty, exhausted, hunched back, whatever, all representing their different social roles.

The halmeonis of Korea, what sets them apart?

This is the generation that remembers what it was like to struggle between a one-party, totalitarian state in North Korea, with aspects of Communism, and strong-man, military rule that gradually turned into a liberal democracy in the South. This is the generation whose families were divided by the 38th parallel, the military demarcation line that disallowed the unity of families. This is the generation that still hopes it will be able to see reunification of the country into which they were born and which they knew as one Korea.

I have to also mention the reunification of families in the two Koreas. The last of these emotional meeting was in 2015. For most of the participants, it was their first and last chance to be with their families. They are related by blood, but almost strangers to each other, if not for the emotional connection heightened by the political drama of the two Koreas. Some were couples who have since led separate lives. It is heart-wrenching to see the images of their helplessness.

It is admirable to see the Moon's administration's determination to settle and see peace between the two Koreas. We understand the complexities of setting up reunification reunions, but time is running out for most of these elderly people. They are the last of that generation to have a full connection with their relatives and spouses in North Korea. The generations that follow are strangers to each other. When economic reality and practicality set in, the generation that comes after may not even want to or care to acknowledge any affiliation with North Korea.

The current generation is enjoying the fruits of this older generation’s labors. The women settled with whatever was available and made something out of it, be it food, clothing or infrastructure. The grandmother of whom I randomly took a photo was taking out some vegetables that commonly and randomly grow in the spring. We could easily take those for granted because they looked like weeds growing among weeds. I thought, this was a perfect example of how this generation makes do with whatever was available and makes something out of it. This is not an isolated picture. I see them everywhere, even along the Hangang River in the heart of today's Seoul.

What kind of strength and discipline and will power does this generation possess to be able to have achieved the status, convenience and wealth that Korea now enjoys?

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.