A Comprehensive Festival Blending Art, Academia, and Sports
to Promote the Historical, Ecological, and Peaceful Values of the DMZ
Featuring Exhibitions, Concerts, International Music Festival, Peace Walk, and More
The DMZ OPEN Festival, held in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) area along the border in northern Gyeonggi Province, will take place from August 11 to November 5, 2025, featuring a variety of events and programs for local residents over a period of three months.
The DMZ OPEN Festival is a comprehensive festival under the concept of "Melodies of Peace (Art), Resonance of Knowledge (Academic), and Movements Beyond Borders (Sports)," aiming to bring everyone together beyond division and boundaries. The festival will include exhibitions, concerts, an international music festival, a peace walk, a peace marathon, and the Eco Peace Forum.
To begin with, the DMZ OPEN Exhibition, which marks the start of the festival, will be held from August 11 to November 5 at Paju Peace Nuri, Gallery Greaves, and Tongilchon. Curated by guest curator Kim Sunjung, this exhibition is themed "UNDO DMZ" and is composed of three sub-themes: "Rewilding the DMZ," "Non-human," and "Circulation." Visitors can view a total of 23 works by 10 artists.
On September 6, the "DMZ OPEN Concert" will take place at the outdoor stage of Imjingak Peace Nuri in Paju. This performance, designed to transform the DMZ from a closed space into an "open space of inspiration and solidarity," will feature popular artists and aims to create joyful memories for local residents at the DMZ.
Following this, the "DMZ OPEN International Music Festival" will be held at Goyang Aram Nuri Aram Concert Hall for four days from September 26 to September 30 (excluding the closure on September 29). This festival is designed to question the meaning of boundaries through music and to expand the sense of peace, aiming to complete the narrative of peace created by music.
On November 1 (Saturday), the "DMZ OPEN Peace Walk" will take place, allowing participants to walk along the ecological trails by the Imjin River near Peace Nuri and experience the peace, ecology, and historical value of the DMZ firsthand. The walk will be offered in two courses: 6 km and 9.1 km. In addition to walking, there will be small-scale performances, unique photo zones, and various experiential events.
On November 2, the "DMZ OPEN Peace Marathon" will be held at Peace Nuri in Paju and other areas of the DMZ to raise awareness of the importance of the DMZ. The marathon will be held in two courses: a half marathon (21 km) and a 10 km course. In addition, on both November 1 and 2, a 1.2 km obstacle race featuring 15 different obstacles, including wall climbing, will be held as a side event.
From November 3 to 5, the "DMZ OPEN Eco Peace Forum," an international academic event to discuss feasible policies for the spread of ecological and peace awareness with renowned scholars from Korea and abroad, will be held at Sono Calm Goyang, marking the conclusion of the DMZ OPEN Festival.
Kim Taehyun, Director of the Peace Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "It is important to recognize the DMZ not as an isolated space but as an open (OPEN) space," and added, "We ask for the interest and participation of many people in the diverse programs and events of the DMZ OPEN Festival, which can be enjoyed and experienced in everyday life."
Meanwhile, tickets for the "DMZ OPEN International Music Festival"?featuring the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Hankyung Arte Philharmonic, the Belgian National Orchestra, and other domestic and international performers active worldwide?will be available for reservation from August 1 (Friday) through the Goyang Aram Nuri website and NOL Ticket. For the opening and regular performances, R seats are 30,000 KRW, S seats are 20,000 KRW, and A seats are 10,000 KRW. For the closing performance, R seats are 50,000 KRW, S seats are 30,000 KRW, and A seats are 20,000 KRW. A 50% discount is available for national merit recipients, persons with disabilities, students, and groups of four or more.
Additionally, for the "DMZ OPEN Concert," the lineup and other information will be announced through the DMZ OPEN Festival's social media channels, and ticket reservations will open via Ticketlink starting August 13.
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