2021 Let's DMZ - DMZ Peace Arts Festival

DMZ is the symbol of peace, and Let's DMZ is the messenger of world peace.

Introducing Let’s DMZ

The 2021 Let's DMZ Peace and Arts Festival will take place in the vicinity of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), including the cities of Paju and Goyang, from May 20. It is an event that presents the DMZ as a stage for peace and coexistence while promoting the special value of the area to the world.

2020 Let's DMZ - Live in DMZ
ⓒGyeonggi Province

The 3rd Let's DMZ Peace and Arts Festival serves as a venue for comprehensive academic gatherings and cultural arts, embracing the meaning and ecological value of peace with public participation through events such as forums, concerts, exhibitions, and sports. The core theme of this festival is ‘Peace, Again,’ which has the dual meaning of conveying wishes for peace in inter-Korean relations as well as in our daily lives as we face the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic.

① DMZ Forum

The DMZ Forum will be held at KINTEX, Goyang City, from May 21 to 22, serving as a nexus for domestic and international discourse on peaceful cooperation and joint prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Approximately 100 panellists, including Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jaemyung, will participate in this event. Under the theme of "Opening a New Level of Peace," there will be a total of 20 sessions.

Of particular note, this year's forum features greatly expanded private sector participation beyond academic fields. The expansion of the peace movement cooperation through the participation of various domestic and international organizations, is a note-worthy achievement.

2020 DMZ Forum

② Concert & Let's DMZ on the Road

The DMZ Concert will be held on May 22 at Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju City. This program seeks to spread a message of peace and harmony through various musical performances regardless of nationality and field.

During the first part of the concert, there will be collaborative performances by the DMZ Peace Orchestra with the participation of traditional musical artists under the theme of ‘Now, Here, Us.’ During the second part of the concert, performances in various genres including K-pop and classical music will take place. Finally, the concluding segment of the concert will convey the message of ‘Peace, Again’ through music performed under the theme of "Let's Sing Peace Again."

In addition, cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province plan to stage small-scale local performances as part of "Let's DMZ on the Road." Through this program, professional artists will visit city and county sites and take part in cultural events. Of particular note, various programs such as lectures, talk concerts, and music performances will be staged for the enjoyment of residents in each locality.

③ DMZ Art Project

The DMZ Art Project will take place in an exhibition format at Imjingak in Paju from May 20 to June 15. It will feature an experiential venue to promote the importance of inter-Korean exchanges, peace and unification.

Under the theme of ‘Open Art Museum Without a Roof,’ the park will be transformed into a three-dimensional art venue, and an exhibition program will also be staged with the participation of painting, sculpture, installation, video/media and performance artists under the theme of ‘Peace, Again.’ More than 200 exhibits will be presented.

Of particular note, this event will feature a participatory art venue where artists and visitors can be united through experiential programs that anyone can enjoy, such as cultural readings and performances, as well as online and offline events.

④ DMZ RUN

‘DMZ RUN,’ the highlight of the second half of this year, is a sports event that will enable participants to run or walk around the DMZ while promoting messages of peace.

From September 4 to 26, the DMZ 155-mile walk will take place around the DMZ in Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province, and the Tour de DMZ cycling envent will take place on September 25 from Yeoncheon County of Gyeonggi to Cheorwon County of Gangwon. In October, the Peace and Reunification Marathon will be held in Imjingak of Paju City.

Kim Eui-sung Becomes the Let’s DMZ Ambassador

Actor Kim Eui-sung has been appointed as a goodwill ambassador and vice chair of the organizing committee of the 2021 Let's DMZ Peace and Arts Festival.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jaemyung presented a letter of appointment to actor Kim Eui-sung in which the actor was designated as a goodwill ambassador of the festival. Kim is expected to effectively promote the event while also serving as the vice chair of the organizing committee.

Governor Lee explained that actor Kim Eui-sung is ideally suited to represent the desire for peace, which will be expressed in a variety of ways throughout the festival. Kim Eui-sung has undertaken exemplary roles in films that include ‘1987,’ ‘Train to Busan,’ ‘Insiders,’ and ‘Assassination,’ as well as in the drama ‘Mr. Sunshine.’

Gyeonggi Province also plans to launch an official public relations team for the festival through the appointment of local residents as ambassadors.