By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the Korean Peninsula is one of the most heavily armed areas in the world. But it is also a unique hot spot for both tourism and scientific research ¡ª a specimen of the Cold War where rare species of flora and fauna abound.

The 38th Parallel now aims to reinvent the remnants of conflict into a space for artistic communication through the DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival (DMZ Docs), which opens its inaugural event from Oct. 21 to 26 in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

Under the theme “Peace, Communication and Life,” the festival will showcase documentaries from near and far.

The opening festival will take place at Daeseong Elementary School, and festival goers can watch screenings at the Paju Unification Observatory, tour the area on bicycles and watch live performances by indie bands.

Popular actor and Gyeongi Performing and Film Council Chairman Cho Jae-hyun will lead the event as festival director. Joining him on the committee are Kim Dong-ho, festival director of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF); veteran actors Ahn Sung-ki, Lee Soon-jae and Choi Bul-am; and directors Park Chan-wook and Lee Jun-ik, among others.

The first festival of its kind, DMZ Docs is hosted by Gyeonggi Province and Paju City, and organized by the Gyeongi Performing and Film Council and the Gyeonggi Digital Contents Agency.

For more information call (02) 3672-0181 or visit www.dmzdocs.co.kr (to be updated soon).

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/07/135_49217.html