Subramanyam and Kim Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Reunite Separated Korean American Families

Link to watch and download the video of his remarks on the House floor here.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Young Kim (R-CA-40) reintroduced the bipartisan Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act. This legislation was first introduced by Congressman Subramanyam’s predecessor, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, and would help reconnect Korean American families with their relatives in North Korea who have been separated for more than 70 years by the Korean War.

“Thousands of Korean American families in Virginia and across the country have been forcibly torn apart from their loved ones by the Korean War for more than seven decades,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Kim to bring these families closer to long-overdue reunion. I thank all the Korean American families who have shared their stories and who have helped move this legislation forward.” 

“As a Korean American, I understand and have great empathy for families who have longed for decades to see their loved ones in North Korea,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “We must prioritize resolving this painful legacy and reunite these war-torn families before it’s too late.”

This bipartisan bill would accelerate family reunifications by directing the U.S. Department of State to compile information about Korean American families who want to reconnect with relatives in North Korea to enable future family reunions. The legislation would also direct the State Department to prioritize progress on arranging future reunions for Korean American families and their relatives in North Korea in future bilateral discussions with North Korea. 

This legislation passed the House of Representatives during the 118th Congress by a vote of 375-8 in June 2024. The reintroduced legislation enjoys bipartisan support in the House of Representatives with Representatives Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) cosponsoring it alongside Representatives Subramanyam and Kim. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) also introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. The legislation is also supported by the Korean American Grassroots Conference.

“KAGC appreciates Reps. Subramanyam and Young Kim for their bipartisan leadership in reintroducing this critical legislation for our community. Establishing a national registry of Korean American divided families is a commonsense, concrete, and tangible step toward identifying and connecting family members who wish to participate in future reunions,” said Wonseok Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Grassroots Conference (KAGC). “We, along with our allies and community partners nationwide, will continue to advocate in Congress to address this urgent humanitarian crisis facing our fellow Korean Americans.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.

A former Policy Advisor to President Barack Obama, Congressman Subramanyam served in the Virginia General Assembly since first getting elected in 2019. In Richmond, Subramanyam founded the bipartisan "Commonwealth Caucus” – a bipartisan group of legislators focused on finding common ground. He passed landmark legislation to lower toll costs for commuters, issue refunds to overcharged consumers, combat the rise in gun violence, and ensure all students have access to the best educational opportunities. He is a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, and a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subramanyam served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Loudoun. He lives in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife, Miranda, and their two daughters, Maya (4) and Nina (3). 

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