Gyeonggi Province's "DMZ OPEN Festival" Concludes with 540,000 Visitors, Aspiring for "Greater Peace"

The "DMZ OPEN Festival," organized by Gyeonggi Province from August 11 to November 5 across the DMZ area, has successfully concluded its three-month-long journey.

International Music Festival. Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province

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Under the direct supervision of Gyeonggi Province and themed "Greater Peace," this comprehensive festival attracted approximately 540,000 visitors to the DMZ, demonstrating the potential for an "open festival" that transcends division and boundaries.

The "DMZ OPEN Festival" is an all-encompassing event spanning three fields-art (Melodies of Peace), academia (Resonance of Knowledge), and sports (Movements Beyond Borders)-with the aim of creating an "open festival" where everyone becomes one, overcoming division and boundaries.

This year, Gyeonggi Province took direct charge of the event, beginning full-scale preparations in March. The journey, themed "Greater Peace," started with the "DMZ OPEN Exhibition" in August and continued through to the "DMZ OPEN Eco Peace Forum" in November, lasting about three months.

Concert. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

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The "DMZ OPEN Exhibition," which marked the opening of the festival, was held from August 11 to November 5 at Paju’s Pyeonghwa Nuri, drawing around 520,000 visitors.

This year’s theme, "UNDO DMZ," reinterpreted the untouched DMZ from an ecological perspective. The special exhibition, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, shed light on the 30-year journey of the Korean people toward independence starting from 1919, reflecting on the meaning of history and peace. The main exhibition featured ten artists from Korea and abroad, including Yang Haegue, Kim Jun, and Adrian G?llner, who expressed the values of ecology and peace through their art.

In addition, throughout September, a variety of concerts delivering messages of peace and harmony through music were held across the DMZ area in Gyeonggi Province, attracting more than 16,000 participants.

On the 6th, the "DMZ OPEN Concert" took place at Paju Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri, featuring a diverse lineup of artists such as Sung Sikyung, Jeon Somi, Lee Youngji, Eunice, EIGHTTURN, and Youthphere. Approximately 12,000 attendees shared the meaning of peace through performances spanning ballads, K-pop, and hip-hop.

From the 26th to the 30th, the "DMZ OPEN International Music Festival" was held at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center, with top-tier orchestras and artists such as the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Hankyung Arte Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra, Han Jaemin, Jess Gillam, Sunyoul, and Paek Hyesun delivering high-quality classical performances.

Notably, the opening performance featured the world premiere of composer Han Jaeyeon’s commissioned work "Mumu for Samulnori and Orchestra," delivering a message of peace that harmonized tradition and modernity. The final piece, Beethoven’s "Choral," created a moment of unity among the audience, symbolically demonstrating the spread of peace and ecological values through music.

The "DMZ OPEN Peace Marathon" held on November 2 at the Imjingang Riverside Ecological Trail in Paju. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

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On November 1, the "DMZ OPEN Peace Walk" was held at the Imjingang Riverside Ecological Trail in Paju, with about 1,600 participants, including foreign ambassadors to Korea and descendants of independence activists. Participants walked along the ecological trail inside the Civilian Control Line, directly experiencing the peace and ecological value of the DMZ.

The following day, November 2, saw the "DMZ OPEN Peace Marathon," which drew around 5,000 participants. Runners crossed the Imjingang Unification Bridge and traversed the DMZ area, reflecting on the meaning of peace while experiencing unique scenery. Various side events, including an obstacle race and a special event marking the 80th anniversary of liberation, further enhanced the festival atmosphere.

From November 3 to 5, the 'DMZ OPEN Eco Peace Forum' is being held at Sono Calm Goyang under the theme 'Greater Peace - Finding the Future Path Starting from the DMZ.' Provided by Gyeonggi Province

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From November 3 to 5, the "DMZ OPEN Eco Peace Forum" was held at Sono Calm Goyang under the theme "Greater Peace - Finding the Future Path Starting from the DMZ." Over three days, about 500 participants, including domestic and international speakers, university students, middle and high school students, and the general public, took part.

This forum, designed to share the ecological and peace values of the DMZ with the world and explore a sustainable future for the Korean Peninsula, opened with a keynote speech by Professor Michael Sandel, author of "Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?" He engaged in a Q&A session with young attendees on the topic "Ecology, Coexistence, and the Common Good," followed by a conversation with Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dongyeon and Ewha Womans University Distinguished Professor Choi Jaechun. That afternoon, the OPEN Session featured special lectures by renowned travel writer Kwon Kibong and Indian visual artist Parvathi Nayar.

On the second day, November 4, in-depth discussions took place through peace and ecology sessions and a roundtable, concluding the "Greater Peace" dialogue that had continued for the past three years and seeking future directions. On the final day, November 5, a special session was held to discuss peace with the international community and the younger generation, bringing the three-day forum to a close.

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "This year’s 'DMZ OPEN Festival,' which integrated art, academia, and sports, showed that the DMZ, the world’s only divided zone, can become a symbol of global aspirations for peace, extending beyond Korea. We plan to continue the journey toward 'Greater Peace' together with our residents in the future."

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