A bike/eco-train tour to the DMZ is being held on November 4 as part of this year’s ‘Tour de DMZ’ hosted by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization.
Recently, the northern part of Gyeonggi Province – including Pyeonghwa-Nuri Trail of Yeoncheon County – has been gaining attention as a new destination for bike tours among many cycling clubs and individuals. Due to this increasing popularity, the region, which offers an abundance of scenic natural views, was selected for the tour event.
Participants are divided into train-user groups and on-site participant groups. The train-user groups take trains equipped with bike racks from Suwon Station, Yeongdeungpo Station, and Cheongnyangni Station to Yeoncheon Station; the on-site participant groups gather at Yeoncheon Public Stadium, which is the starting point for those using other transportation means. After arrival, the participants can cycle along either beginner or intermediate (road / MTB) courses.
Beginner Course
An 18-km course starting from Yeoncheon Public Stadium near Yeoncheon Station and leading to Godaesan Mountain along Chatancheon Bike Road via Waterside Park and Sintan-ri Station. Participants can have lunch by the mountain and then return to Sintan-ri Station to take trains returning to Yeoncheon Station and have some free time for sightseeing.
Intermediate Course
After finishing the 18-km beginner course and having lunch, the participants return to the starting point following the road course or MTB course according to their bicycle types. The road course consists of a 45-km course from Daegwang-ri Station to Yeoncheon Station via Mulbawi Recreation Area and Dongmak Valley. The MTB course is a 50-km course along a temporary road around Bogaesan Mountain, connecting Daegwang-ri, Naesan-ri, Dongmak Valley, and Yeoncheon Station.
The participation fee is KRW 50,000 (per person) including train fare. On-site participants who do not use trains only need to pay KRW 30,000. Lunch is provided by the Women’s Association in Sinseo-myeon of Yeoncheon County as part of participation by local residents.
A bicycle satchel (equivalent to KRW 25,000) is offered as a souvenir to all participants, and bicycle supplies are presented to the winners of a raffle held after lunch. You can apply online from September 19 to October 27 (240 people for train-user groups and 100 people for on-site participant groups on a first-come, first-served basis) via the website (www.tour08.co.kr).
Gyeonggi Province ran a program called ‘DMZ security tour with residents’ for approximately 100 multicultural family members at the DMZ in northern Gyeonggi.
The DMZ security tour is a project that Gyeonggi Province began last year for residents, such as multicultural families who have not yet had an opportunity to learn about security, to experience and appreciate the importance of security and unification through tours of the DMZ, a symbol of the division.
This project is also a ‘resident-suggested’ project. Mr. A, a resident of Uiwang, suggested it through the Gyeonggi Province homepage in June, stating that such a project can effectively teach the security issues and history of the divided Korea peninsula as well as the importance of unification to vulnerable classes such as marriage migrant women.
On this day, the participants – who gathered at the Imjingak Pavilion – spent a meaningful time peering into North Korea from the Dora Observatory in the civilian restricted zone, passing over the Unification Bridge, and experiencing the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, a military route for the invasion of South Korea discovered in 1978. In addition, they also visited places where the reality of division can be truly felt such as the Gyeongui Line Steam Locomotive and Freedom Bridge, and were provided with an opportunity to convey hopes for peaceful unification.
The participants agreed that they were able to feel the pain of the divided nation and the necessity for unification after looking directly into North Korea, which they cannot easily experience in their daily lives. In addition, they said that they once again realized the importance of safety while at the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel.
Seongnam City is holding a special exhibition in commemoration of Wianbu victims (comfort women for the Japanese military) during World War II in the Exhibition Room on the 2nd floor of Seongnam City Hall from September 11 to 15.
The exhibition, entitled “Remember, Again,” was planned to remind people of the tragic history of the Wianbu during World War II, recovering the victims’ honor, and ascertaining the historical truth.
The exhibition displays 17 works of modern installation art with the themes of “An ordinary life and marriage” and “Years spent as a Wianbu” that express the memories that the victims would have had if they had lived an ordinary life and the memories that they want to forget in turn.
There is also an installation work that symbolizes the surviving Wianbu victims with 35 light bulbs. This exhibition is expected to spread awareness of and interest in the Japanese military’s role in enforced sex slavery during World War II. Seongnam City has erected the Statue of Peace on April 15, 2014, in City Hall Square.
This statue had been set up to urge Japan to genuinely apologize for war-time sexual slavery and to draw attention to this issue as a global human rights issue.
Of the 238 Korean Wianbu victims registered with the government, only 35 are still alive, with 34 residing in Korea and one overseas.
Inquiries: Women’s Policy Team, Women and Family Division (+82-31-729-2924)
Gyeonggi Province unveiled an open global startup platform at its Startup Campus to connect young people from developing countries who wish to establish ICT industry startups and Gyeonggi youths who desire to go to those countries.
From December 20, Gyeonggi Province will conduct a 4-month invitational training program at its Startup Campus and Ajou University for 20 young people from Indonesia and Myanmar who aspire to establish startups, matching them with 10 youths of Gyeonggi Province who wish to go to those two nations, thereby transforming startup ideas into projects with the aid of professional consulting.
Invitational training in the ICT industry for youths from developing countries started as a part of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2016 with the invitation of 20 Indonesian youths so as to foster talent from developing countries in science and technology.
Starting this year, the open platform of the Gyeonggi Province Startup Campus will be utilized as a place where youths from Indonesia, Myanmar and Korea can cooperate in the realization of their dreams to launch global startups. The entrance ceremony for training will be held in Yulgok Hall of Ajou University and, in December, public officials related to the startup training of Indonesia and Myanmar will be invited to a presentation session during which the trainees can share their work.
Gyeonggi Province opens Art Gyeonggi platforms at CGV Jungdong in Bucheon and Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch on August 16, and at Bella Citta in Ilsan on August 23.
2017 Art Gyeonggi is an art campaign to revitalize the stagnant art market and reveal its potential by highlighting new artists in the province and connecting them with galleries and viewers.
The art platforms are expected to provide residents of Gyeonggi Province with opportunities to discover art and artists in everyday life, and to actively enjoy and purchase their works. The average price per work is KRW 300,000 to 1 million.
All proceeds from the sales of the works will be given to the artists and, with their agreement, 20% of the proceeds will be used as a fund to promote Art Gyeonggi, implement related projects, and operate social contribution programs.
In September, an art festival in which both artists and residents participate will be held. Original works as well as edition works such as prints and photographs can be purchased at the festival venue.
The festival will be held at Bella Citta from September 9 to 10, Hyundai Department Store Jungdong Branch from September 16 to 17, and Humax Village from September 23 to 24.
⇒2017 Art Gyeonggi
