Gyeonggi Province to Host "2025 DMZ OPEN Festival" from August to November

Full-Scale Preparations Begin for a Peace Festival Embracing Arts, Academia, and Sports
Comprehensive Festival to Promote the Historical, Ecological, and Peaceful Value of the DMZ

Gyeonggi Province announced on April 21 that it will host the "2025 DMZ OPEN Festival," a comprehensive cultural event aimed at widely promoting the historical, ecological, and peace-related value of the DMZ to both domestic and international audiences, from August to November this year.

2024 DMZ Peace Walk. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

The DMZ OPEN Festival, held in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) areas of the northern border region of Gyeonggi Province, will take place in the second half of the year under the concept of a comprehensive festival that brings everyone together beyond division and boundaries. The festival will feature various programs, including "Melodies of Peace" (arts), "Echoes of Knowledge" (academia), and "Movements Beyond Borders" (sports).

In August, the DMZ OPEN Exhibition will mark the opening of the festival. In line with the direction of an "Open DMZ," the exhibition will be planned and operated under the theme of "DMZ Together," showcasing visual art pieces that embody the value of peace.

In September, the DMZ OPEN Concert and the DMZ OPEN International Music Festival will be held. The concert will expand its genres to include popular performances, offering residents a broader range of cultural experiences. The international music festival will feature renowned classical artists and incorporate not only classical music but also traditional music, highlighting musical diversity.

From October to November, sports events such as the DMZ Peace Walk and the Peace Marathon will be held, allowing participants to directly walk and run through the DMZ area. In November, the festival will conclude with the Ecopiece Forum, an international academic event where renowned scholars from Korea and abroad will discuss feasible policies to spread consensus on peace and unification.

This year, the DMZ OPEN Festival will be organized directly by Gyeonggi Province, unlike last year. As a result, related procedures such as bidding announcements for event agencies will be carried out sequentially.

The bidding announcement for agencies responsible for the DMZ OPEN Exhibition, International Music Festival, Forum, Peace Walk, and festival promotion will be conducted as a limited competitive bid (negotiated contract) starting at the end of April. Other projects will also be promoted in stages.

In addition, a new official website for the DMZ OPEN Festival will be launched to provide detailed event schedules and plans in the future.

Kim Taehyun, Director of Peace and Cooperation at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The DMZ is transforming into a cultural hub with ecological, peace, and historical value," adding, "Through the DMZ OPEN Festival, we aim to make the DMZ a space for everyone to participate in peace, thereby expanding the consensus for peace."