"Korea Reunited: A Family’s Lifelong Dream by Irene Kim presents a poignant recollection of how the turbulent past of Korea tore families apart, including that of the author’s father. Kim Chi-Jeon, Irene’s father and the central figure of the book, reveals through rounds of interviews with his daughter the painful separation from his family as he fled from the northern areas to the south. Starting with the Japanese occupation to the devastating wars and the formal division of Korea, his childhood had been rough. Despite his eventual settlement in the United States, the agony never left him. The book includes an account of the author and her father as they set off for North Korea in a desperate quest for their lost family. 
 
Irene Kim’s Korea Reunited: A Family’s Lifelong Dream is an incredibly touching story that is much more than mere history. In her father’s voice and her own, Irene shows how the challenging times left a lasting impression on their lives. From the experiences and interactions presented in the book, the universality of certain human emotions becomes obvious. Irrespective of where people are from or what circumstances they find themselves in, there is always something they have in common, something that makes everyone human. As a reader, one cannot help but wonder what became of the individuals who were mentioned in the narration and how many stories revolving around the country's separation will remain untold. The book is recommended for anyone who enjoys memoirs and history." 

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Reviewed by Afifa Raisa for Readers’ Favorite - 5 Stars