[Op-Ed] "From Busan to Eurasia"... The Road Is Peace

Kim Hyunkook / Explorer

Hyunkuk Kim explorer (Eurasia continent crossing road record holder)

What I hope from the new president.

For the past 30 years, I have documented the route connecting the Korean Peninsula to the continent. This was not simply travel, but a practical effort to expand the daily life of South Korea, confined to a narrow peninsula, into a span of 14,000 kilometers.

At the center of this is the Eurasia continent crossing road, which begins in Busan, passes through Siberia, and reaches Cork, Ireland. This route consists of the Asian Highway Route 6, overseen by the United Nations ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), the European E30 road managed by the United Nations ECE (Economic Commission for Europe), and the Russian federal highway. The entire route is already paved with asphalt, and anyone can drive across it today thanks to the existing infrastructure.

I have crossed the Eurasian continent six times on this road, and I have recorded it not just as a 'route to pass through,' but as a 'route to live on.' This is the most physical and practical documentation for the future of South Korea.

In 2026, I will begin my seventh Eurasia crossing. The theme is 'The Road is Peace! From New York to Paris, and then to the Korean Peninsula DMZ. The Northern Sea Route.' This journey will start in New York, cross the Pacific Ocean, traverse Siberia to reach Europe, then follow the Arctic sea route back to Russia, pass through Vladivostok, enter North Korea via Rason and Wonsan, and finally cross the Korean Peninsula DMZ to arrive in Seoul.

The core message of this journey is simple: "Let us reconnect the divided roads of the South and the North. The road itself is peace."

The world is now in a period of upheaval. While digital technology connects the globe in real time, major powers are forming new geopolitical axes centered on their own interests. In this situation, where the United States, China, and Russia are clashing and negotiating, South Korea must not take a passive stance on either side, but instead pursue active choices and strategic challenges.

The Trump administration's emphasis on the potential of the Arctic sea route, the restoration of relations with Russia, and China's Belt and Road Initiative are all signs of a new Eurasian era.

Now, South Korea must choose. Will we limit our daily lives to the 400 kilometers from Seoul to Busan? Or will we embrace the 14,000 kilometers from Seoul to Rotterdam, crossing Siberia, Europe, and the Arctic Ocean, as our new daily reality?

Currently, the overland Eurasia continent crossing road and the Northern Sea Route (Northeast Passage), which connect Busan to Rotterdam via Siberia, are 7,000 kilometers shorter than the existing 21,000-kilometer maritime route through the Suez Canal.

This means overwhelming competitiveness in both time and cost. Busan and Ulsan can be reorganized as central ports in global logistics along this axis. Furthermore, the overland route is not just a passage for logistics. It is an expansion of the daily life of South Korea.

Imagine a young Korean driving across Siberia to go windsurfing in the Baltic Sea, a family fishing together at Lake Baikal, or traveling within the Arctic Circle in their own car to witness the aurora. This is not a distant dream. It is already a possible reality, and the infrastructure is in place.

I earnestly ask President Lee Jaemyung: Now, action must come before declaration, connection before talks, and roads before ideals. Reconnecting the divided roads of the Korean Peninsula is the most symbolic and concrete action South Korea can take to contribute to the Eurasian era.

I am not a diplomatic or security expert. But as an explorer who has pioneered, documented, and traveled the 'road' connecting the Eurasian continent for over 30 years, I can say this: A road is not just a passage. It is the most physical promise to connect people, unite nations, and realize peace.

Now is the time to keep that promise. As the president of South Korea, I hope you will join this great challenge to reconnect the Korean Peninsula’s roads to the continent.

"The road is peace." That is the future we must pursue.