Starting May 13 (Mon), the government will open the “DMZ Peace Trail,” featuring 10 thematic routes through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), allowing participants to directly experience the ecological, cultural, and historical resources unique to the DMZ areas and learn about the importance of security and freedom. Those interested can apply online starting April 30 (Tues) via the DMZ Peace Trail website (www.dmzwalk.com) and the walking tour mobile application “Durunubi.”

The DMZ border areas are sought after not only by local Koreans but also by international tourists, marking it as a premier security tourism destination in the country. To develop these areas into a globally recognized security tourism hotspot and to invigorate local tourism and the economy, the thematic routes being opened this time are based in Ganghwa in Incheon, Gimpo, Goyang, Paju, and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi, and Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje, and Goseong in Gangwon, each reflecting the unique characteristics of the respective local government areas.

In each course, to protect the diverse wildlife residing in the DMZ and ensure the safety of the participants, transportation will be provided by vehicles, but key segments will allow participants to walk under the supervision and cooperation of military units. Participants will be able to see the unique natural resources available only in the border areas and hear the poignant stories hidden within them through local guides and information officers from the villages.

Notably, in cooperation with local governments, the 10 thematic routes are named to best reflect the local history and characteristics, such as “Ganghwa Peace Observatory Course,” “Gimpo Han River Estuary-Aegibong Course,” and “Hwacheon Baekmagoji Course,” allowing nationals to easily understand each course.

(Ganghwa-gun) Ganghwa Peace Observatory Course, (Gimpo-si) Han River Estuary-Aegibong Course, (Goyang-si) Janghang Wetland Ecology Course, (Paju-si) Imjingak-Dorasan Course, (Yeoncheon-gun) Blue House Raid Road Exploration Course (January 21 Incident Exploration Course), (Cheorwon-gun) Baekmagoji Course, (Hwacheon-gun) Baegamsan Mountain Bimok Course, (Yanggu-gun) Dutayeon Bloody Ridge Course, (Inje-gun) Daegok-ri Guard Post-1052 Hill Course, (Goseong-gun) Goseong Unification Observatory Course

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST) is working with the Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Ministry of Environment to develop an integrated management system[1] for the creation of the “DMZ Peace Trail,” aiming to preserve the ecological value of the DMZ and promote sustainable economic development in the area.

PARK Jong Taek, the Director-General for the Tourism Policy Bureau at MCST, stated, “MCST will continue to work closely with related ministries and local governments to develop the DMZ border areas into a world-class security and ecological tourism resource exclusive to Korea.” He added, “We hope that the opening of these thematic routes will activate security tourism in the DMZ border areas and help revive the local economy, which has been affected by population decline and development restrictions.”