Abstract
The aim of this study was to achieve an understanding of the experiences of divided families in South Korea. The study adopted a qualitative method based on the interpretive science paradigm The participants were 14 elderly people who came from North Korea around 1950 and identified as belonging to the first generation of divided families. In-depth individual interviews were carried out, focusing on what divided families experienced after leaving their hometown, how these experiences affected their meaning-making about their homecoming, and how the divided community has changed. The result of theme analysis indicated that the first generation of divided families identified themselves as "people who lost their hometown." their hometown implied multiple losses, including their family members, socioeconomic status, and psychological support systems. The participants explained the process of their settlement and adaptation to South Korea based on the cohesion of the divided family community. However, they anticipated that the divided family community would fade away because of the aging of the first generation, the indifference of the second generation, and the frustration that existed about the reunion of the divided family members. The participants showed a realistic view on returning to their hometown after the reunification of North Korea and South Korea.
