[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Chunsu Kim] Once again this year, the curtain has risen on the ‘Peace Road 2021 World March,’ where people around the world run together wishing for the unification of the Korean Peninsula and world peace.
The Peace Road Unification March began in 2013 under the name ‘Korea-Japan 3800km Peace Bicycle Unification March’ and expanded into an event attended by 14 countries in 2014, 120 countries in 2015, 125 countries in 2016 and 2017, and 130 countries from 2018 onward.
With the slogan “Let’s open the path of unification where the South and North live together,” this year marks the 9th year of the Peace Road Unification March, with 400,000 participants from 130 countries worldwide continuing to fuel the enthusiasm for Korean Peninsula unification.
Especially this year, marking the 71st anniversary of the ‘June 25 War,’ 130 countries’ youth and students run together in remembrance of the noble sacrifices of soldiers from 22 participating countries.
According to the Peace Road Korea Executive Committee on the 16th, starting from Geoje, Gyeongnam on June 26, a nationwide bicycle cross-country ride involving 5,000 participants will take place across metropolitan cities and provinces until the 22nd.
In particular, the Honam team started from Jeju, the southernmost point, on the 12th, arrived at Mokpo (photo) on the 14th, and will head toward Mungyeong Saejae via Gwangju, Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do, Daejeon, and Chungcheongnam-do and Chungcheongbuk-do.
The Yeongnam team departed from Busan on the 14th, passing through Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do and Daegu, heading toward Mungyeong Saejae. The two teams will meet at Mungyeong Saejae and ride together through Seoul to the finishing point at Imjingak.
The schedule for passing through sections is as follows: Jeju on the 12th; Busan and Jeonnam on the 14th; Gyeongnam and Gwangju on the 15th; Daegu and Jeonbuk on the 16th; Gyeongbuk and Daejeon on the 17th; Chungbuk on the 18th; southern Gyeonggi and Gangwon on the 19th; northern Gyeonggi on the 20th; Seoul and Incheon on the 21st; and Paju Imjingak on the 22nd.
At Imjingak, the ‘Peace Road 2021 Completion Ceremony’ will be held. Prior to this, some cities and counties such as Geoje, Gyeongnam (June 26), Pohang, Gyeongbuk (July 3), Goseong County, Gyeongnam (July 17), Hapcheon County (July 18), and Haenam, Jeonnam (July 15) have been embarking on the peace journey by pedaling their bicycles since late June.
Chairman Song Gwangseok said, “No matter how fiercely COVID-19 rages or how strained inter-Korean relations become, the passion of participants to promote the vision of global peace and unification will not be stopped,” adding, “We plan to actively inform that the unification of the Korean Peninsula, the world’s only divided country, is the cornerstone of world peace, thereby garnering international support and cooperation.”
Song Gwangseok, Chairman of the Peace Road Korea Executive Committee, said, “No matter how fiercely COVID-19 rages or how strained inter-Korean relations become, the passion of participants to promote the vision of global peace and unification will not be stopped,” and added, “We plan to actively inform that the unification of the Korean Peninsula, the world’s only divided country, is the cornerstone of world peace, thereby garnering international support and cooperation.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
