A symbol of peace, ‘Peace Trail’

‘DMZ Peace Trail’ is a walking trail course that utilizes ecological, historical, and cultural resources from Incheon Ganghwa Peace Observatory to the Gangwon Goseong Unification Observatory, 523.87km long in the Demilitarized Zone.

We will ease the stagnation of regional development due to various regulations and aging of the DMZ border area, promote the natural environment designated by UNESCO, introduce the western, central and eastern regions with the characteristics of each DMZ area, and highlight the importance of the DMZ, the world's only division site and symbol of peace, to inform everyone of its symbolism and meaning.

Among the eight name candidates, ‘DMZ Peace Trail’ contains a message of peace in the DMZ, which has scars of war and pain of division, and the name is simple and east to call, creating intuitive perceptions of all ages.

 

Local biodiversity,the path of high ecological value

With an ecosystem that has not been open for more than 70 years, the area has natural monuments, rare animals and plants. A total of 6,373 species of plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish, including 102 endangered wildlife, live in 42.7% of the endangered wildlife, indicating that the area has excellent biodiversity and very high ecological value.

In particular, endangered species in need of protection, such as cranes, spoonbills, otters, and amur goral, are observed in this area, and winter migratory birds such as cranes, ash cranes, and eagles, which are natural monuments, freely cross between the south and north. The space, which used to be the ruins of war, has become a mysterious place that we must pay attention to and administrate, where various ecosystems coexist.

A walk through the Demilitarized Zone

The border area is included in three metropolitan cities and 15 cities and counties, and these areas account for a tenth of the Republic of Korea and have a population of 2.67 million. The Road to Peace consists of 35 major routes and 11 themed routes, some of which require reservations. The main route is a trans-east-west route that can be moved relatively freely on foot, and the theme route is a return-to-origin theme route where limited people in 10 border local governments, including Ganghwa, Gimpo, Goyang, Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje, and Goseong, use vehicle and walking.

In some of the reserved sections, tourists can hear the hidden stories of the area from commentators and guide agents composed of villagers and others. You can apply for the 'Peace Trail' course on the Durunubi website(https://www.durunubi.kr/) and mobile app. The theme route requires an identification process, and you have to pay 10,000 won for participation. However, it will be refunded to the participants as a local specialty souvenir.

Also, people can enjoy various festivals and events in each region where the Peace Trail is operated. At the 'Yeoncheon DMZ Peace Trail Walking Event' held on October 28, 2023, people could also enjoy the Gaanmaru course and Yeoncheon Yulmu Festival at the 13-course Gunnam Flood Control Site. On November 10, 2023, the 'Paju DMZ Peace Trail Puppy Tracking Event' walked the ecological trail along the Imjin River in Paju with dogs on the course from Yulgok Wetland Park to Imjin Naru and provided various events and souvenirs. In addition, the first DMZ Peace Trail, which was held from July 3 to August 5, 2023, was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the armistice and the completion of the DMZ Peace Trail, and the second round, which was held from September 18 to November 19, 2023, was successfully completed.

The Path of UnityWith All

A total of five state agencies, including Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Environment, have signed a joint business agreement to establish an integrated operating system for the creation and operation of peace.

The DMZ area has long attracted the attention of foreign tourists and is one of the most visited places in Korea.Wishing for peace in the DMZ area and hoping to revitalize tourism in the stagnant DMZ area, it promoted the creation of a DMZ peace road. In order to minimize environmental damage, artificial road construction was avoided, existing roads were utilized to the fullest, and a path of peace was built by connecting the disconnected section with the existing old road. In addition, the base center, which was created by remodeling abandoned barracks, closed schools, and village halls so that visitors to the DMZ area can use guest houses, information centers, and convenience facilities, is expected to be of great help in revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs in connection with village companies and social enterprises.

The path of peace is a path that contains the aspirations of our ancestors who wanted to keep peace for us in the future. Walking along the heartbreaking but meaningful path, we can hear the story of the place that shows the traces left by the war and the reality of the painful division. Shall we cross that stopped time and now walk through the time of peace together?

Published in
December.27.2023
Modified in
December.27.2023