Human Peace Chain

On April 27 I joined with folks from 서울 제일 교회 (Seoul First Church) and headed to 연젼 (Yeoncheon) near the DMZ to participate in the Korean DMZ Human Peace Chain marking the one year anniversary since the signing of the Panmunjom declaration regarding the peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean peninsula at 14:27 on April 27, 2018.

It was a beautiful day. We had a picnic and a program beside the Imjin River, which flows across the border between the two Koreas.

On the bus we had a few international guests—someone from Japan, someone from China, someone from Ireland, someone from the Philippines, and myself from Canada, ensuring that the world was well-represented. 

When it got close to 2:27 the line began to form . . .

I couldn’t see more than a little way up and down the line, but it was an eery feeling, knowing that we were all connected, hand in hand, from east to west and west to east, along the 500 km of the DMZ.

After more than 70 years of division, an event like this allows Koreans from all walks of life to express their desire for reunification and peace on the Korean peninsula.

Here is a news video about the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slh9YyBn0LE

You can also read more of my reflections on this event on the United Church website:
https://www.united-church.ca/blogs/round-table/chain-hope-across-dmz