Kim Dong-yeon: "The DMZ is a Land of Possibility for Peace and Cooperation, a Land of Ecological Diversity"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced his attendance at the opening ceremony of the 'DMZ Forum' held at Kintex in Goyang, reflecting on the meaning of the DMZ.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon conveyed through SNS on the 16th, "While the DMZ is a land of division and conflict," he stated, "it is a land of possibility for peace and cooperation and 'greater peace'—a land of ecological diversity."

He added, "It is part of our Gyeonggi Province and a land of possibility that could become an asset of Special Autonomous Gyeonggi North," and said, "Gyeonggi Province will do its best to make known the value of the DMZ and convey the message of peace and greater peace to the world."

Below is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<The DMZ is a Land of Diversity and Possibility>
Peace is commonly understood as safety from the threat of war or the easing of tensions. However, in a broader sense, it encompasses diverse themes for humanity's shared future, including intergenerational harmony, environment and ecology, sustainability, the future of youth, climate change and demographic crisis.
Gyeonggi Province has continued its efforts for peace through a series of programs called Let's DMZ. In particular, this year, through a shift in perspective, we have expanded its scope to 'greater peace'—namely, responding to ecology and the climate crisis.
I attended the opening ceremony of the DMZ Forum held today at Kintex in Goyang. I had a conversation with Professor Choi Jae-cheon, whom we welcomed in his capacity as co-chairman of the event organizing committee.
An anecdote about Professor Choi's doctoral advisor was impressive. His first words whenever meeting after a long time were, "How is the DMZ doing?" This anecdote well illustrates how precious the DMZ is in the eyes of ecologists around the world. This is because the DMZ is a treasure trove of ecology that uniquely maintains biodiversity in the temperate zone.
The DMZ is a land of division and conflict. However, it is a land of possibility for peace and cooperation and of 'greater peace'—a land of ecological diversity. It is part of our Gyeonggi Province and a land of possibility that could become an asset of Special Autonomous Gyeonggi North.
Gyeonggi Province will do its best to make known the value of the DMZ and to convey the message of peace and greater peace to the world.