A group of international young Catholics joined the “2024 Wind of Peace – World Youth Pilgrimage to DMZ,” held by the Korea Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul from August 29 to September 1.
The annual pilgrimage aimed to promote peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, according to a message sent by the Korea Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul to LiCAS News.
Approximately 30 youths, including participants from Spain, Slovakia, and Malaysia, along with nuns from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and the Daughters of St. Paul, embarked on a four-day peace walk toward the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), symbolizing their role as “apostles of peace.”
The pilgrimage began at the Odusan Unification Tower, where participants gazed across the Imjin River toward North Korea.
The clear weather provided a panoramic view of the Han and Imjin Rivers converging into the West Sea, allowing the youth to contemplate the division between the two Koreas.
The group then attended various programs at the Center for Unified Korean Future in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province.
One highlight of the pilgrimage was riding the KTX-Unification Train, where the participants experienced a virtual reality (VR) journey, traveling through time to better understand the past and future of the peninsula’s division.
A North Korean defector shared their experiences, offering insights into the challenges and hopes for peace.
“If we show even a little interest in the midst of numerous conflicts, we will eventually achieve peace. This pilgrimage has given me an opportunity to think deeply about what peace is,” reflected Isu Raphaela Kim, the youngest participant.
The pilgrims hiked up the Jangsan Observatory on the Pyeonghwa-Nuri 8 Trail, where they encountered physical reminders of division, including dismantled barbed wire and the sounds of nearby military exercises.
From the observatory, they could see across the border to Kaesong City in North Korea and the Masikryong Mountains. Together, the youth prayed for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The pilgrimage also included a visit to the Crematory for UN troops in Yeoncheon and the Military Cemetery for North Korean soldiers.
Ester Palma, a Spanish lay missionary, said, “Both the South and the North should work to ensure that the remains of North Korean soldiers are laid to rest in their hometown,” adding, “I prayed for the souls of the young people who gave their lives in the tragedy of war.”
In the evening, participants gathered for Taizé Prayer, led by Brother Jean-Daniel of the Taizé Community, who is soon departing for Ukraine.
“Reconciliation and peace are not tasks for the distant future, but something we can do right now,” he said, emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in peace efforts.
On the third day, the pilgrims walked around the Ganghwa Jeokbong Peace Observatory and Nanjeong Reservoir on Ganghwa Island.
Soojin Francisca Oh, a returning participant, expressed her commitment to the cause: “It was a very meaningful chance to meet and walk with young people of the same age who have similar concerns, and I plan to keep participating in this event to learn and share the value of peace.”
The pilgrimage, which began in 2012, is a key initiative of the Korea Reconciliation Committee to cultivate young “apostles of peace.”
The event, which was also supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Unification, was led by Fr. Ignatius Sooyong Jung, Vice Chairperson of the Committee.
As preparations begin for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, the Committee has formed a task force of Youth Apostles to help plan next year’s program.
