Peace and hope in a South Korean art village

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05:06

Less than an hour's drive from Seoul, an art scene is flourishing near the border between the ROK and the DPRK.

At first glance, Heyri Art Village is a picturesque day-trip destination for city dwellers to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Visitors will find a cluster of quirky modern buildings nestled in the woodland, hip museums, shops and cafes lining its winding paths, all blending nicely into a backdrop of unspoiled nature.

But just a few miles north, the barbed-wire border with an armed checkpoint is a stark reminder of the fragile peace in the region. Located in Paju on the western edge of the Demilitarized Zone, this idyllic artsy hub has come to symbolize peace in a region known to the world for anything but that.

Since 1997, hundreds of South Korean artists, musicians, architects and writers have moved into the village where they set up studios and living spaces, turning it into a collective home for the creative community.

A bookstore and coffee shop in Heyri Art Village in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. /Photo via heyri.net

Given the sensitive location, the residents feel a special responsibility to send out messages of hope.

"We work through art and peace to do something that politics couldn't," said Lansu, the director of Heyri Art Village and an artist himself.

"Being so close to the DPRK gives us a sense of responsibility. So we should try to work on reunification to make it happen faster," he said.

The village was built without obstructing the natural landscape, so the roads leading to it are hilly and not easy for outsiders to navigate.

The reclusive state of being close to nature makes one's life emotionally richer, said Lansu, who lives alone. His wife works in Seoul and visits once in a while.

There is a chilled vibe to Lansu's home where he creates his art. Among colorful paintings and nature-inspired sculptures that fill the room, there is a large picture of ROK President Moon Jae-in and DPRK leader Kim Jung Un. Both men are seen smiling.

Lansu said he wanted to bring back peace on the peninsula through his art by "visualizing" it, and he is hopeful.

"Birds can fly from the ROK to the DPRK in five minutes. I hope someday, just over there in Kaesong (in the DPRK), we will enjoy lunch together, talking over a cup of tea," he envisioned.

"My dream is always peace for all of us," Lansu wrote on a piece of paper, adding it to a wall of handwritten prayers from well-wishers.

"Even if it does not happen in my lifetime, as long as the next generation continues working on this dream, we still have hope," he said.