The "2026 Unification Walk" event will take place in Yanggu County along the DMZ Peace Trail, reflecting on the significance of peace and unification.
According to Yanggu County on August 3, the event, led by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee In-young, will occur from August 5 to 7 over a three-day period at Dutae-ryeon and other locations along the DMZ Peace Trail.
With the slogan "Ten Years of Peace, Walking Together Towards Unification," this year's event is part of a 12-night, 13-day peace pilgrimage that stretches from the Unification Observatory in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, to Imjingak in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, along the DMZ border area.
Participants, who began their journey with a ceremony at the Goseong Unification Observatory on August 2, will walk through the border areas of Gangwon Province, entering the Yanggu section, where they will experience the ecological environment and the history of division firsthand along the DMZ Peace Trail.
Now in its 10th year, the Unification Walk aims to share the values of peace and unification with the public by walking through the sites of division. Participants will have the opportunity to appreciate the natural environment and historical significance of the DMZ.
Notably, the Dutae-ryeon area in Yanggu, which was previously restricted to the public, has been opened as a Peace Trail, allowing visitors to explore both the ecological value of the DMZ and the historical context of the border region.
Yanggu County plans to provide administrative support to ensure the safety of participants and the smooth operation of the event.
Kim Hyung-kwan, head of the Yanggu County Administrative Affairs Division, stated, "The Yanggu section is not just a walking event; it is a meaningful time to reflect on the significance of division and peace while experiencing the ecological and historical values of the DMZ. We will do our best to support participants in completing their schedule safely."
This Unification Walk continues annually with the aim of viewing the border area not merely as a space for security but as a venue for peace, ecology, and historical education. Programs linking the DMZ Peace Trail with security tourism and ecological exploration are consistently offered in border areas, including Yanggu, as part of peace tourism resources.
The event will conclude in mid-August at Imjingak in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, after following the pilgrimage route along the border between Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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