IPYG & Companion Campaign Conduct Historical Tour at Gando Cultural Experience Village
juliet
September 11, 2025
0 Comments
IPYG & Companion Campaign Conduct Historical Tour at Gando Cultural Experience Village
A special event was held to revisit history and strengthen correct awareness.
On September 12, the “Gando Village Field Trip Program”, organized by IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) and the Companion Campaign, took place at the Korea Territory Hall in the Gando Cultural Experience Village, Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province.
The purpose of the event was to reaffirm Gando as Korean territory, to raise awareness of historical responsibility, and to explore the possibilities for peace on the Korean Peninsula. The event was joined not only by youth but also by representatives from various organizations, adding to its significance.
In the opening address, Lee Juhan, Team Leader of IPYG Global 01 Branch, said, “Gando may feel unfamiliar to some, but many have forgotten that it is originally our land. We want to share this precious knowledge and heritage with future generations.” He also expressed hope that this event would go beyond a simple experience and contribute, directly or indirectly, to peace and free exchange on the Korean Peninsula.
Hong Ran-hee, Head of the Companion Campaign for Southern Gyeonggi and Seoul, stressed, “Gando was unfairly taken away through the 1909 Gando Agreement between Qing and Japan. We must reflect on the meaning of ‘restoration’ and regain correct historical understanding.” She added that this should not be the end, but rather the beginning of continued efforts to reflect on history and peace together.
The main lecture on Gando was delivered by Director Yuk Nak-hyun. He emphasized, “Gando is not just land; it is a historical legacy we must reclaim,” presenting detailed historical evidence from Joseon-era administrative records to the illegitimacy of the Gando Agreement. In particular, he pointed out, “The 1909 Agreement is legally null and void under international law, and the Gando region currently occupied by China is land that was illegally taken.”
Participants, including young people and citizens, carefully viewed the exhibition materials and attentively listened to the lecture, leaving with a deep impression. Many remarked that the event helped them recognize more clearly the illegitimacy of the Gando Agreement and the necessity of restoring sovereignty.
With this field trip as a starting point, IPYG and the Companion Campaign plan to continue various programs that promote correct historical understanding and the practice of peace together with the people.
Reference : https://vo.la/SiZ4xl