The National YWCA of Korea held a 4th year ceremony of YWCA Hanminjok Women Peace Pilgrimage “Halla to Baekdu” at Seoul YWCA conference room at 2 p.m. on October 15 (Thursday). The peace pilgrimage has been held since 2017 to commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the National YWCA of Korea(hereafter Korea YWCA) expected in 2022.

Due to social distancing regulations, the ceremony was conducted by the online video conference where YWCA peacemakers from all over the country nationwide gathered via zoom and Korea YWCA YouTube channel live streaming, capturing high attentions of the online participants.

However, due to the severe COVID 19 outbreak in mid-September and for the participants safety, the hiking project transformed into a “Inner Peace Journey: Self-Pilgrimage.” The participants took time to reflect on their daily lives and the meaning of peace pilgrimage on their personal level by walking in solitude. The “Inner Peace Journey: Self-Pilgrimage“ ran from September 15 (Tue.) to 23 (wed) and about 350 participants from a total of 39 Member YWCAs nationwide participated. This includes 98 of the newly joined Peace Pilgrims signifying the 98th anniversary of Korea YWCA. The participants participated individually or with their regional YWCA members, wearing the peace pilgrimage souvenirs (handkerchief, leaflet, badge, and flag) provided by the National YWCA of Korea office. Each participants were to leave the proof shots of their peace walk with their one line of peace prayer and record the distance walked.

“Inner Peace Journey: Self-Pilgrimage” participants

The participant’s one line prayers included ‘peace beyond discrimination and difference,’ ‘peaceful coexistence of all lives’, ‘freely traveling between South and North Korea,’ ‘May peace be made by our hands ’and ‘bring reconciliation and healing.’ The prayers such as “I want to run on Gaema highlands” and “I want to visit my grandmother’s hometown in North Korea” caught the eyes of the audiences.

As a follow up program, “Our Peace Journey: We, the Pilgrims” was held on October 15th, 2020 through contact-free online Zoom conference and the Youtube live broadcast. The Peace pilgrims gathered online to share their peace reflections of self-pilgrimages and strengthen the peace network.

For the extended peace project, the “YWCA Peace Photo Exhibition Online Gallery” opened from November 16 to 30.

This year’s theme focused on “Emotional Healing and Recovery.” Marking the 70th year of the Korean War, the Korean Peninsula is still suffering from pain caused by divided land, separated families and the divided systems and ideological conflicts. Not to mention, North Koreans continues to suffer from the extended UN sanctions and the natural disasters whereas South Koreans suffer from the ideological disunity within the society.

Korea YWCA members will continue to walk together as companions every year on this peace journey wishing for the complete healing and recovery of this land.

Written and Translated by Grace Eun Young Kim(eykim@ywca.or.kr)

Program Officer, International Relations Department

National YWCA of Korea