DMZ marathon offers rare peek inside heavily fortified border

Runners begin the race at the 15th Cheorwon DMZ International Peace Marathon in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

'2018 race best serves purposes of promoting peace'

By Yi Whan-woo

CHEORWON, Gangwon Province -- Over 4,800 runners including 340 foreigners had a rare chance to run through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, and Cheorwon County co-hosted the 15th Cheorwon DMZ International Peace Marathon, Sunday.

The annual event in South Korea's northeastern Gangwon Province best serves its purpose of promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to organizers.

They underscored that it allows runners a peek into the DMZ that is off-limits to civilians during the rest of the year.

They also stressed that it took place in the lead-up to the third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un scheduled for next week.

“This year's race has special significance considering the Korean Peninsula is facing the turning point for peace and prosperity,” Hankook Ilbo President and Publisher Lee Jun-hee said.

Dongwha Group Chairman Seung Myung-ho, sixth from right, also chairman of the Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times, poses with Hankook Ilbo President and Publisher Lee Jun-hee, second from left, Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon, second from right, Cheorwon County Council Chairman Moon Kyung-hoon, left, Gangwon Provincial Council Chairman Han Keum-suk, third from left, Australian Ambassador to Korea James Choi, fifth from right, U.K. Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith, third right, Finland Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Korea (FCCIK) head Heikki Ranta, fourth from right, and other VIPs during the opening ceremony of the 15th Cheorwon DMZ International Peace Marathon in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

Other VIPs included Dongwha Group Chairman Seung Myung-ho, who is also the chairman of the Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times, Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon, Cheorwon County Deputy Governor Heo Yoon, Cheorwon County Council Chairman Moon Kyung-hoon, Gangwon Provincial Council Chairman Han Keum-suk and finalists of the 2018 Miss Korea Pageant.

They were joined by two ambassadors to Korea -- James Choi of Australia and Simon Smith of the United Kingdom -- and Finland Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Korea (FCCIK) head Heikki Ranta.

Among other international participants were 30 U.S. soldiers stationed in Korea.

Ambassador Choi, serving in Korea since December 2016, has joined the race for two straight years.

Also a PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Torch Relay runner, he is a passionate runner and has participated in major marathons in the countries where he has served.

“It is a pleasure to participate in the DMZ Marathon for the second time. Running is part of my daily routine and provides balance in my busy schedule. And I always try to fit in as many races as possible during the year,” he said.

He ran the half marathon, one of the five categories. The other four were full marathon, 10 kilometers, five kilometers, and a four-kilometer walk.

The South Korean-born Australian assessed the DMZ Marathon as “symbolic,” saying “Australia will continue to work with the Republic of Korea in enhancing the prosperity and security of the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region more broadly.”

Ambassador Smith ran five kilometers, which was his first DMZ Marathon appearance after beginning the job in Seoul in March. He was accompanied by two embassy officers _ Philip Kendall and Kim Gould.

“Whether you are running five, 10, a half marathon, a marathon or walking four kilometers, I hope you have a great day today,” he said.

The U.K. Embassy has been a steady supporter of the DMZ Marathon. Smith's predecessor Charles Hay participated in 2015 and 2016.

FCCIK head Ranta has been a regular DMZ marathon guest since 2015. On Sunday, he brought his son, Leo Ranta, who was a guest of cable channel JTBC's talk show “Non-Summit,” and Pekka Warjust, a Finnish accountant.

Marathoners run along the paddy field stretching over Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

Marathoners pass by the the Workers' Party Headquarters used by North Korea before the 1950-53 Korean War in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

The DMZ marathon course runs past the paddy fields of Cheorwon, a home to premium rice production.

It is well-known for its scenic, historic and cultural sites, such as the Workers' Party Headquarters, Woljeong-ri Station, Goseokjeong Pavilion and the Iron Triangle Zone.

The now-deserted Workers' Party Headquarters belonged to North Korea before the 1950-53 Korean War.

Woljeong-ri Station, a closed train station, is famous for its sign “The iron horse wants to run again,” in hope for the reconnection of the inter-Korean railways.

Goseokjeong Pavilion, the starting point of the DMZ marathon, is a two-story tower built during the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935). It is one of the scenic spots in Cheorwon.

The Iron Triangle Zone near Goseokjeong Pavilion exhibits historical records of the Battle of Triangle Hill, a series of battles fought between Chinese and U.N. forces in 1952.

Once North Korean territory, Cheorwon was considered North Korean founding leader Kim Il-sung's potential choice for a capital but ended cut in half by the Military Demarcation Line dissecting the 248-kilometer-long and four-kilometer-wide DMZ.