The South Korean government announced on April 1 that it will reopen all 12 peace-themed walking routes near the Demilitarized Zone for this year's program. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the DMZ Peace Trail will operate from April 17 to November 30, with a temporary suspension in July and August due to summer heat. Access is limited to South Korean nationals.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced in a joint press release with related offices that all 12 routes of the DMZ Peace Trail will reopen. The trails span border areas in Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon provinces, including sections inside the DMZ in Paju, Cheorwon, and Goseong, according to ministry officials.
Created in 2019, the trails offer South Korean citizens a chance to explore the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of the heavily guarded border. Yonhap reported that three routes inside the DMZ had been closed since April 2024 due to heightened tensions with North Korea. The DMZ, 250 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, divides the peninsula since the 1950-53 Korean War armistice, leaving the two Koreas technically at war.
Some routes have operated intermittently for security reasons, pausing fully in winter before reopening seasonally. The government plans to expand operating days and participant numbers this year. Registration is required via the official website (www.dmzwalk.com) or Durunubi app, with a fee of 10,000 won ($6.65) per person.
