Walking and Running as One... 'DMZ OPEN Peace Walk and Marathon' Held

Gyeonggi Province Successfully Concludes 2025 'DMZ OPEN Peace Walk and Marathon'
Ambassadors to Korea, Descendants of Independence Patriots, and Marathon Enthusiasts Participate
Walking and Running Through Civilian-Controlled Areas Including the Ecological Trail and Unification Bridge

A two-day festival was held at the Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri area in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where participants walked and ran through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), experiencing the values of ecology, peace, and history firsthand.

The flagship sports program of the DMZ OPEN Festival, the "2025 DMZ OPEN Peace Marathon," took place on the 2nd. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

As the representative sports programs of the DMZ OPEN Festival, the "2025 DMZ OPEN Peace Walk" was held on the 1st, followed by the "2025 DMZ OPEN Peace Marathon" on the 2nd.

The "DMZ Peace Walk" on the first day was an event where participants walked along the Imjingang riverside ecological trail inside the Civilian Control Line, directly experiencing the ecological value and meaning of peace. This year, about 1,500 people participated, including Janis Berzins, Ambassador of Latvia to Korea, ambassadors from 13 countries, descendants of independence patriots, and Choi Jaecheon, Chairperson of the D.O.F. Organizing Committee.

During the opening ceremony, six participant representatives, including Kim Gyuri, who serves as a Gyeonggi Province public relations ambassador, took turns reading messages of peace on stage. Each time, all participants responded together by saying, "The DMZ is peace," creating an interactive event that heightened the atmosphere. The walk officially began with a powerful drum performance wishing for peace by Vice Governor Kim Dae-soon.

Participants stepped on platforms shaped like the footprints of endangered animals inhabiting the DMZ, such as the musk deer and Asiatic black bear. Along the walking route on the Imjingang riverside ecological trail inside the Civilian Control Line, they were able to observe the ecological scenery beyond the barbed wire, which is usually off-limits.

This year, the event was further enriched by a congratulatory performance wishing for peace by the Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra, along with a variety of other events that enhanced the festive atmosphere of the walk.

In the first-floor lobby of the DMZ Ecotourism Support Center, an exhibition of photographs featuring 13 independence activists from Gyeonggi Province was held, providing a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the "spirit of liberation and the value of peace." Additionally, the DMZ Peace Mailbox event symbolized that the DMZ is not a place of division but a starting point for peace. Participants wrote messages wishing for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula on postcards and placed them in the DMZ mailbox, creating a space for unity and communication while commemorating the 80th anniversary of liberation.

The "DMZ Peace Marathon" held on the second day was Gyeonggi Province's representative marathon festival. Starting with a relay chant and the starting gun at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri, the race was held in two courses: a half marathon (about 21 km) and a 10 km run. Participants crossed the Imjingang Unification Bridge and ran to Tongilchon Intersection, a civilian-controlled area, experiencing the unique scenery of the DMZ. Vice Governor Kim Dae-soon, National Assembly members Yoon Hu-deok and Park Jung, and provincial council members attended the event to encourage the participants.

The representative sports program of the DMZ OPEN Festival, the "2025 DMZ OPEN Peace Walk," took place on the 1st. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

As for the results, Kim Moonkyu won first place in the men's half marathon (about 21 km), while Kim Juyeon took first place in the women's division. In the 10 km course, Jung Mincheol won the men's division and Hyun Solbin won the women's division. Trophies were awarded to the top finishers in each course, and all participants received finisher medals, bib numbers, timing chips, and sports bags as souvenirs.

Gyeonggi Province prioritized the safety of participants by installing safety fences at the Unification Bridge and key turning points, and by deploying staff to ensure the event proceeded smoothly and safely. Additionally, medical support and various amenities were meticulously prepared so that participants could complete the race comfortably.

In addition to the marathon, a variety of side events further enhanced the festival atmosphere. Participants took part in an obstacle race to experience a spirit of challenge, a Korea-US soldiers' friendship basketball game symbolizing the two countries' alliance, and a digital stamp tour exploring the Imjingak area, providing unique enjoyment and inspiration. These side events transformed the event into a participatory festival where the values of peace, cooperation, and exchange could be experienced, going beyond a simple sports competition.

Kim Dae-soon, Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, said, "In celebration of the 80th anniversary of liberation, we prepared this event to share the values of history and peace, hoping that the DMZ will be reborn as a symbol of peace and coexistence. It was a meaningful festival where participants could directly experience nature and history along the Pyeonghwa Nuri Trail, going beyond a simple sports event."

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