Yeoncheon County Pursues International DMZ Research Hub, Links It to Peace Economy Special Zone and Paleolithic Expo

International academic seminar brings together researchers from South Korea, Sweden and elsewhere
Discuss ways to develop green projects and attract investment
County Governor Kim Deokhyeon: "Develop policies to support stable living conditions for residents"

Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province is exploring ways to connect the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)'s ecological, historical, and cultural assets with international joint research and regional development. The plan is to identify green projects through research and field demonstrations and link them to efforts to secure designation as a Peace Economy Special Zone and preparations for the 2029 Yeoncheon World Paleolithic Expo.

Yeoncheon County is holding the “2026 DMZ Yeoncheon-Sweden International Academic Seminar” at the Korean Peninsula Unification Future Center on the 29th of last month, in partnership with the Future Earth Program at Seoul National University’s Institute for Korean Regional Studies and Asia Center. Photo provided by Yeoncheon County.

Yeoncheon County announced on October 7 that it had held the 2026 DMZ Yeoncheon-Sweden International Academic Seminar on September 29 at the Korean Peninsula Unification Future Center, in partnership with Seoul National University's Institute for Korean Regional Studies and Asia Center's Future Earth Program.

The seminar, held under the theme "Making Yeoncheon a Global DMZ Living Lab," drew researchers and experts from South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Poland, Hong Kong, and Australia, who participated both online and in person. The SAEGIL Consortium, an academic partnership between Asia and Europe that combines natural and social sciences to connect sustainability research with policymaking and practical action, also took part.

The discussions focused on ways to make Yeoncheon's border region a hub for international research, education, and exchange. Participants proposed establishing a "living lab" where research and pilot projects could be conducted in the local community, advancing both ecological conservation and regional economic revitalization. The aim is to broaden the region's development prospects by preparing viable projects in advance, rather than relying solely on deregulation or changes in inter-Korean relations.

In his keynote address, Swedish Ambassador to South Korea Carl-Olof Andersson said, "Border regions and the DMZ can become not only spaces for security but also living ecological treasures and places for sustainable development."

He added that universities, research institutions, and local governments should work together to make ecological conservation, improvements in residents' quality of life, and regional development part of the international joint research agenda.

At a talk concert, Yeoncheon County Governor Kim Deokhyeon, Park Sujin, director of Seoul National University's Asia Center, and Patrik Ström, director of the Asia Research Centre at the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, among others, discussed ways to internationalize the DMZ and advance the green transition.

Governor Kim said, "International interest in the green economic transition in border regions is growing. Based on continued research and international discussions on Yeoncheon's border region, we will continue to develop effective policies to support stable living conditions for county residents."

The academic program, which consisted of four sessions, covered ways to advance projects linked to candidate sites for the Peace Economy Special Zone. Participants highlighted the need to establish an operational foundation in the areas of peace and ecology, industry and logistics, and railway culture and education at sites including the World Peace Garden, Yeongang Forest, BIX agricultural and life sciences research and development (R&D) facilities, Euntong Station, and Sinseo and Daegwang-ri.

Participants proposed clarifying the roles of the central and local governments and establishing a cooperation framework among local governments in border regions to improve the projects' feasibility. They also called for central government funding for infrastructure, along with diverse financing methods tailored to the characteristics of each project.

Yeoncheon County plans to share the policy directions discussed at the seminar with the local community and work with the central government and domestic and international research institutions to develop follow-up projects linked to efforts to secure Peace Economy Special Zone designation and the 2029 World Paleolithic Expo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.