This year’s forum will be held under the overarching theme of “Paving the Way for Peaceful Coexistence,” bringing together the Korean central government, local governments, and the international community to foster multifaceted, practical discussions on peace.
The event will begin with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by keynote and peace and ecology sessions.
During the morning keynote session, Professor Valérie Gelézeau of the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in France will deliver a keynote address titled “The Meaning and Potential of the Path to Peace: Geographical Reveries Along the DMZ.” After that, Gyeonggi Province Governor Mi Ae Choo, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, Director Christoph Heuser of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Korea Office, and Professor Gelézeau will take the stage for an in-depth keynote discussion and a Q&A session for the official opening of the forum.
Three sessions will be held in the afternoon, one each organized by Gyeonggi Province, the Ministry of Unification, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The first peace session, organized by the Ministry of Unification, will be moderated by former Vice Minister of Unification Choi Young-joon. Under the theme “Peaceful Use of the DMZ and Measures for Cooperation,” presentations and discussions will feature AFP journalist Roland de Courson, Director Felix Glenk of the Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea Office, and Director Kang Min-jo of the Center for Korean Peninsula and East Asia Research at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, among others.
The second peace session—organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation—will be moderated by Moon A-young, head of PEACEMOMO. Themed “Dialogue for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia: Perspectives from Asia and Europe,” the roundtable discussion will feature Choi Jong-kun, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dan Smith, Senior Researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research; Sayo Saruta, Director of the New Diplomacy Initiative; and other key figures.
Gyeonggi Province will also hold the “Domestic Seminar on Smart Ecological Cities in Northeast Asia” in conjunction with the forum as its ecology session. Themed “Ecological Peace Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula: From the DMZ to Siberia,” discussions will feature Honorary Research Fellow Choo Jang-min of the Korea Environment Institute and Research Fellow Ko Gyeong-taek of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, among others.
The forum will provide a venue for members of the public and young people attending in person to experience the ecological and peaceful value of the DMZ firsthand and engage in dialogue. In particular, the event venue will feature a “DMZ Big Game” experience zone developed by the Ministry of Unification, and it is open to all visitors. Various on-site activities will also be held, with commemorative gifts offered to participants.
Those wishing to attend can register in advance through the official DMZ OPEN Eco-Peace Forum website at www.dmzepf.co.kr.
“This forum is a meaningful occasion, made possible by close cooperation among domestic and international organizations including Gyeonggi Province, the Ministry of Unification, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, to translate the value of the DMZ into academic and policy action,” said Woo Byeong-bae, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Peace Cooperation Division, adding, “We hope that many members of the public and young people will take part and envision a future of peace and coexistence together.”
]]>This exchange program follows visits by 55 young people from Gyeonggi to Jiangsu and Guangdong in May and June, continuing the reciprocal exchanges between the two sides.
First, 24 students from Jiangsu Province will spend five days—from October 12 to 16—attending regular classes with students at Icheon Middle School. They will also take part in activities involving hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), pottery, and food culture as well as youth performances and discussion sessions.
Meanwhile, a group of 34 students from Guangdong Province will visit Shinsung High School in Anyang from October 26 to 30. They will observe classes, participate in cultural exchange activities, and take part in a variety of programs including traditional Korean archery, Korean dance, and visits to Hwaseong Haenggung Palace and Everland theme park.
The Gyeonggi Province Youth International Exchange is an initiative jointly implemented by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Future Generation Foundation to strengthen young people’s international competence. Instead of focusing solely on sightseeing, the program emphasizes hands-on exchanges in which participants take part directly in school classes and joint activities to help them understand one another’s history, culture, and way of life.
“We expect youths from both countries to experience school life alongside their peers and participate in cultural and artistic activities, helping them understand different cultures and develop their international communication skills,” said Kim Jae-hoon, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s Future and Lifelong Education Bureau, adding, “We will continue to promote international exchanges so that young people can communicate and build friendships across borders and language barriers.”
]]>The workshop’s hands-on programs allow participants to experience the creative process by making works with clay as well as a variety of materials alongside artists from Korea and abroad. Throughout October, artists from the Netherlands, Australia, and Korea will present a range of interactive programs exploring themes such as cities and the environment, nature and materials, and tradition and community.
All programs are free, although eligibility requirements, capacity, and participation methods vary by program. Prior reservations through the official website are required for some programs. On-site participation is also possible if spaces are available.
Led by Dutch artist Iris de Kievith, “Smogware Korea: From Urban Dust to the Dining Table” by Lab AIR uses dust collected from downtown Icheon City as material for ceramic glazes. Participants will apply the dust-based glaze to ceramics, share food served in Smogware dishes, and discuss air, cities, and the environment. Open to participants aged 13 and older, the program will run on October 3, 9, and 10.
Korean artist Sim Da-eun’s “Long and Noisy Coincidences” invites participants to collect clay and ceramic fragments from around the museum, break them down, and reshape them into new forms. Consisting of “Walking the Land” and “Fragments and Records,” the program will take place at the creative studios and around Seolbongsan Mountain from October 2 to 11.
“Shaping Memories of the Land with the Hermannsburg Potters” by the Indigenous Australian ceramic group Hermannsburg Potters introduces Central Australia’s natural environment and community life through clay, painting, and storytelling. The program will run at the creative studios from October 8 to 11, with a special program scheduled for October 9 on the outdoor lawn of the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art. The program is open to participants of all ages.
Korean ceramic artist Kim Chang-ho’s “Breathing Vessels: Onggi” introduces participants to the traditional process of making onggi, or Korean earthenware, and gives them the opportunity to make a small onggi vessel themselves. By observing the artisan’s work, participants can experience traditional Korean ceramic-making techniques and learn about the distinctive properties of the materials used. The program will run on October 9 and 10, and it is open to elementary school students and older participants.
Of particular note, the “Korea-Australia Cultural Exchange Day” will be held in conjunction with the International Ceramic Workshop on October 9, Hangul Day, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Australia. Organized in cooperation with the Australian Embassy in Korea and supported by the Australian Government’s International Cultural Diplomacy Arts Fund (ICDAF) and Creative Australia, the event will also bring together Korean ceramic artists and master artisans to exchange ideas on ceramic art and craft cultures in Korea and Australia as well as community and creativity.
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., hands-on ceramic activities will be hosted on the outdoor lawn of the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art with the Hermannsburg Potters and Kim Chang-ho along with a performance by Australian musician Bumpy. A variety of commemorative gifts will also be provided to event participants. This will be followed by discussions and talks featuring Korean and Australian artists and experts from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the shared space on the second floor of the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art.
The special discussion—themed “Building Landscapes, Shaping Landscapes”—will bring together architect Jang Young-cheol and ceramic artist Choi Sung-jae to explore the spaces and landscapes created through architecture and ceramics. In addition, the program will feature talks with curator Natalie King and the Hermannsburg Potters and with Australian craft expert Kevin Murray.
The Open Studio program, which offers visitors an up-close look at artists’ actual creative processes, will also run from October 2 to 11. During the second session, participating artists will include Lab AIR, Kim Chang-ho, Sim Da-eun, and the Hermannsburg Potters. Studios at the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art as well as the creative studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can attend without making reservations.
Meanwhile, programs by artists who participated in the first session of the International Ceramic Workshop in September will continue as follow-up activities. The participatory workshops by Maja Quille, David Rauer, Sakamoto Kai, and Scenocosme will be run by dedicated educators based on the artists’ working methods and program content, and they will continue through October 18. The programs have been extended so that visitors can continue to experience the creative process and ideas behind the works firsthand, even after the artists’ on-site participation has ended.
For detailed schedules and advance reservations, visit the Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale website at gcbiennale.org.
“The International Ceramic Workshop allows artists and visitors to work with clay and other materials together and experience how artworks are created,” said Ryu In-gwon, president of the Korea Ceramic Foundation, adding, “I hope visitors will discover a variety of materials and stories alongside artists from Korea and abroad and experience ceramic art from a fresh perspective throughout October.”
The 2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale will run through November 1 at Icheon Cerapia, Gwangju Gonjiam Ceramic Park, and Yeoju Ceramic World.
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