Gyeonggi-do Holds 'DMZ RUN' for Peace After 2-Year Suspension

Nov. 20-28 DMZ Area Hosts 155-Mile Walking and Bicycle Events

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province will hold the representative sports experience event 'DMZ RUN,' where participants run around the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to experience its ecological, cultural, and historical values, for the first time in two years following the government's phased daily recovery implementation in November.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 2nd, this year's event consists of three parts: DMZ 155-mile Walk, Tour de DMZ (bicycle race), and Peaceful Unification Marathon.

'Tour de DMZ (bicycle race)' and 'Peaceful Unification Marathon' will be held a total of 8 times in the morning and afternoon over four days on the 20th, 21st, 27th, and 28th of this month, while the 'DMZ 155-mile Walk' will be held 4 times on the same dates.

The 'DMZ 155-mile Walk,' where participants walk key sections of the DMZ Peace Nuri Trail to reflect on the meaning of the DMZ and reaffirm their commitment to peace, allows participants to choose their preferred course among the trails set up in Gimpo, Paju, and Yeoncheon Peace Nuri Trail areas, reach the turnaround point, and return.

'Tour de DMZ (bicycle race)' is an event to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the DMZ, where history and nature breathe, by pedaling. Like the 155-mile walk, it is divided into three courses along the DMZ Peace Nuri Bicycle Trail in Gimpo, Paju, and Yeoncheon.

The 'Peaceful Unification Marathon,' where participants enjoy a marathon in the formerly forbidden land of the DMZ and pray for unification, will be held along the Imjingang Riverside Ecological Exploration Trail in Paju with 9.19 km and 4.27 km courses, as well as an online untact race.

The 9.19 km course starts from the Imjingak Peace Bell Pavilion, passes through the 46T Tongmun Gate, Majung Company Intersection, and Eco Museum, and returns to the starting point at the 60T Guard Post.

The 4.27 km course runs from the Peace Bell Pavilion, passes through the 46T Tongmun Gate, turns around near the Majung Company Intersection, and returns to the starting point.

The 'online untact race' will be held from the 20th to the 28th without restrictions on time or place. Participants nationwide can freely choose either the 9.19 km or 4.27 km course to join.

The maximum number of participants per session for 'DMZ RUN' is 49 for Tour de DMZ (bicycle race) and Peaceful Unification Marathon, and 499 for the DMZ 155-mile Walk.

In accordance with the phased daily recovery from COVID-19, offline events require participants to have completed the second dose of vaccination or to have a negative PCR test result within 48 hours before the event.

Shin Jun-young, Director of the Peace Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "We hope this will be an opportunity for the public to overcome the difficult times caused by COVID-19 and to communicate and unite."