Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon: "DMZ is the Starting Line toward Humanity's Future"

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon has taken on the promotion of the 'DMZ Open Festival'.

On the 20th, Governor Kim posted on SNS, "A train ran along the Gyeongui Line from Munsan Station to Dorasan Station. It has been four years since operations were suspended due to COVID-19 quarantine measures," and expressed his conviction that "the DMZ is not merely a result of armistice but a symbol of 'peace' and 'ecology and environment'—a starting line toward humanity's future."

He continued, "From today through November, the 'DMZ Open Festival' will be held for 12 weeks. Through various performances, exhibitions, academic programs, and sports events, we have prepared diverse experiential spaces to raise awareness about the DMZ's peace, ecology, and historical value.

I ask for your keen interest and participation," he urged.

Below is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

< A Great Journey for Peace and Ecology—The Curtain Rises at the DMZ >

A train ran along the Gyeongui Line from Munsan Station to Dorasan Station. It has been four years since operations were suspended due to COVID-19 quarantine measures.

'Dorasan Station' is a station established within the civilian control line following the inter-Korean summit of June 15, 2000. From the southern perspective, it is the last station, but I regard it as 'the first station heading north' with hopes for unification.

Thus the '2023 DMZ (DMZ) Open Festival' has begun.

Some 1,500 participants, including diplomatic envoys from 15 countries such as the French Ambassador, former Minister Kang Geum-sil, Climate Ambassador, and Professor Choi Jae-cheon, co-chairman of the DMZ Open Festival Organizing Committee, walked the DMZ Eco-Trail together.

The DMZ is not merely a result of armistice but a symbol of 'peace' and 'ecology and environment'—a starting line toward humanity's future.

In preparing today's event, I have endeavored to showcase not only our resolve for peace and unification but also Gyeonggi Province's progressive and bold determination in responding to climate change, down to the every prop used in the event.

From today through November, the 'DMZ Open Festival' will be held for 12 weeks. Through various performances, exhibitions, academic programs, and sports events, we have prepared diverse experiential spaces to raise awareness about the DMZ's peace, ecology, and historical value.

I ask for your keen interest and participation.