Over 360 Peace Delegates Experience the Values of Peace and Unification
On the morning of the 13th, participants aboard the Gwangju Peace Train departing from Gwangju Hyochon Station toward the Paju Demilitarized Zone waved their hands in greeting. Provided by Gwangju City
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, the 'Gwangju Peace Train' departed from Hyochon Station at 6:54 a.m. on the 13th, carrying 355 passengers toward the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Paju.
On this day, Gwangju City held a departure ceremony for the 2025 Gwangju Peace Train, titled '1980 Train', at the plaza of Hyochon Station in Nam-gu, the starting point of the train, under the theme 'Gwangju Has Arrived, Unification Is Coming'.
The ceremony began with Mayor Kang Gijung, who served as honorary stationmaster for the day, along with Seo Yonggyu, Vice Chairman of the Gwangju City Council, and Kim Byungnae, Mayor of Nam-gu, entering the plaza holding a large Korean Peninsula flag. The event continued with welcoming remarks, the presentation of a 'Peace Ticket'?designed to resemble a 1980s train ticket?to a citizen representative, and the distribution of small Korean Peninsula flags to passengers.
Mayor Kang said, "The passion of our citizens for peace is remarkable. It feels as if the spring of peace is returning to the frozen inter-Korean relationship," and added, "The Gwangju Peace Train will sow the seeds of peace and unification wherever it goes."
Kim, a passenger from Chipyeong-dong in Seo-gu, said, "I am very excited to see the DMZ area, including the Third Tunnel, with my own eyes," and added, "I look forward to the day when we can drive our own cars to Mount Geumgang. I hope our wish for unification comes true as soon as possible."
A couple who came with their fifth-grade son said, "We applied because we thought it would be meaningful for our family to reflect on the values of unification and peace together," and continued, "Our son recently learned about the DMZ in class, so he is especially excited to see it in person. We believe this will be a vivid educational experience."
The Gwangju Peace Train travels as a special train from Gwangju Hyochon Station to Imjingang Station, and was planned to allow participants to reflect on the Gwangju Spirit of May 1980 and to experience the values of peace and unification firsthand. Onboard, citizens can participate in cultural content such as a music cafe, plays, and performances themed around May 1980. After arriving at Imjingang Station, the group will continue with a security field trip in the DMZ area of Paju.
Meanwhile, the city plans to operate another Peace Train to the DMZ in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, on September 19 to mark the seventh anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration in the second half of the year.
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