Exiled in Uzbekistan, 80-year-old makes journey to Korea

Her father and grandfather fought for Korean independence

Heo Roja, who has spent her life away from her father’s homeland of Korea, was finally able to return to the hometown of her grandfather Heo Wi, who fought for the nation’s independence during the Japanese imperial rule.

The 80-year-old did not show any sign of exhaustion in spite of her 10-hour journey from a town in Uzbekistan to Incheon International Airport on October 4. Perhaps she was excitedly anticipating the visit to her grandfather’s hometown in time for Chuseok, the nation’s biggest holiday, which falls this week.

She had to move from the far east of Russia to Uzbekistan due to the former Soviet’s forced relocation policy. It took eight decades for her to finally come to South Korea.

"Among other things, I want to go and pay tribute to my grandfather’s tomb," Huh said after arriving at the airport. "I cannot wait to go there and place a wreath on his tomb, since I haven’t been able to do such a thing in my life." Though she heard stories about her father and grandfather from her mother, she does not know exactly when they passed away. Even now, she said she has no idea where her father’s tomb is located.

Patriot Heo Hyeong (also known as Heo Hak, 1887-1940) was the eldest son of Heo Wi (also known as Wangsan, 1854-1908). The father led national resistance forces against Japan in Korea and was executed in Seodaemun Prison; his sons followed in their father’s footsteps, resisting Japanese rule in Manchuria.

Heo Rosa has had to eke out a living in her old age, until last month when a Hankyoreh report on her life prompted the government to grant her the financial subsidy it provides for relatives of patriots, money it had previously erroneously denied her.

She was welcomed by a group of relatives waiting for her arrival at the Incheon International Airport. All of them were virtually strangers but she hugged them with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Even though I was seeing them for the first time in my life, I knew who they were, since I heard a lot about them from my mother," she said.

The harvest moon during the Chuseok holidays will make her feel even happier, she said. "In Uzbekistan, I used to pay tribute to my aunts’ tombs with vodka and Russian food, but now I will be able to do it with cheongju (rice wine) and Korean food at my grandfather’s tomb."

During her stay in Korea, which will last until October 17, Heo is scheduled to visit the prison where her grandfather perished, and pay tribute to her father’s tomb with other relatives. She is also to meet Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who extended the invitation to Heo to visit South Korea. "This is the biggest Chuseok celebration of my life," Heo said.

She said that her last wish is to live here until the end of her life. "Considering it took 80 years to come to this country, I doubt it will be easy for me to obtain nationality," she said.