Gyeonggi-do Opens 'DMZ Eco-Peace Forum'... Discussing Coexistence of Peace and Ecology

18 Sessions to Be Held at KINTEX on the 5th and 6th

2024 DMZ EcoPeace Forum. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

The ‘2024 DMZ EcoPeace Forum,’ discussing the sustainable peace and coexistence of ecology in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to realize ‘Greater Peace,’ opened on the 4th.

The opening ceremony, held at Gimpo Aegibong Peace Ecological Park overlooking the Jogang River where the rivers of South and North Korea merge, began with ‘Pungnyeonga’ performed by violinist Yoo Si-yeon and janggu accompaniment by Jang Kyung-hee. Pungnyeonga, symbolizing abundance, is the ‘song of hope’ of our people, who were an agricultural nation, resonating with attendees as a call to overcome hardships together and sing of hope.

Choi Jae-chun, co-chairman of the DMZ OPEN Festival, which has led the EcoPeace Forum since last year, stated, “The DMZ on the Korean Peninsula, the last remaining conflict zone, is no longer just Korean land but belongs to humanity.” He emphasized, “Although ecology and peace may seem like an unlikely combination amid the current tension between South and North Korea, now is the time for in-depth discussions on peace and ecology in the DMZ.”

The keynote dialogue, chaired by Choi Jae-chun, was conducted under two themes: peace and ecology. In the peace session titled ‘Greater Peace of the Korean Peninsula DMZ Implications for Conflict Zones,’ Chairman Choi, Yoon Young-kwan, Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (former Minister of Foreign Affairs), and Lee Eun-jung, Chair of the Department of History and Culture at Freie Universit?t Berlin, connected peace with people, the Earth, and development, engaging in a multifaceted conversation on peace.

In the ecology session titled ‘Finding Future Paths Based on the Ecology of the Korean Peninsula DMZ,’ Chairman Choi, Gabriela Schaepman Strub, Professor at the University of Zurich, August Pradetto, Professor at Helmut Schmidt University, and Han Beom-su, Professor at Kyonggi University, discussed the DMZ’s historical and ecological symbolism and explored diverse ways to expand beyond spatial boundaries into northern Gyeonggi, tourism, innovation, economy, and cultural spaces.

Oh Hu-seok, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Gyeonggi Province, said, “Peace is threatened worldwide due to the Ukraine-Russia war and tensions on the Korean Peninsula. At times like this, the desire for peace grows stronger, and the world’s attention focuses more on the DMZ.” He added, “The DMZ is ‘land open to the future symbolizing peace and ecology.’ Through this space of possibilities, we will lead sustainable peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.”

Hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, the ‘DMZ EcoPeace Forum’ will continue for two days from the 5th to the 6th at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 in Goyang, featuring over 70 domestic and international scholars and experts from 10 countries participating in 18 diverse sessions. More detailed information is available on the DMZ OPEN Festival website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.