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DMZ Village (Haemaruchon) Transformed by Dongseo Design College

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2015-09-16 14:23

Professor Ahn Byung-jin of the Dongseo Design College, along with 22 students and 5 researchers from the Public Design Research Institute (PDRI) volunteered in Haemaruchon, a village near the DMZ from July 26 until August 1 of this year. Over the course of 6 years, volunteers have transformed Haemaruchon into an artistic village.

The theme of the project was “Peaceful Countdown 54321 for Reunification” in honor of the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence. The theme has a hopeful message that South and North Korea will overcome their division and eventually come together again. A sculpture in the shape of the numbers “54321” shows that not only South and North Korea but the whole world urgently need to overcome differences through communication. Professor Ahn and the team made a 33-meter-long table, 33 being a number symbolizing good luck. They also put on a performance called “Kith and Kin Party” together with residents and visitors.

People are grateful for the efforts of this program. The project “Making Haemaruchon an Artistic Town” improves the appearance and convenience of the community. Along with wooden benches and street signs, there is a display made up of 20 deer located in proportion to the 21 cities that joined in the Korean War.

Professor Ahn said, “It is meaningful that DSU professors, students, and researchers from PDRI volunteered in a faraway DMZ town. This is a project that shows a small step toward reunification and how a town can be changed through public design.”