HWPL Seoul–Gyeonggi East Branch Holds 4th “New Settlers’ Day of Dialogue,” Connecting Hearts Through Culture

 

 

On November 8, the HWPL Seoul–Gyeonggi East Branch held the 4th “New Settlers’ Day of Dialogue” at its Taereung office under the theme “Shared Culture, the First Step Toward a Better Tomorrow.”

Now in its fourth year, the event served as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together people from the South and the North to reflect on the meaning of peace and reunification. Approximately 50 participants—including new settlers, local residents, and youth volunteers—attended the event.

During the program, inter-Korean exchange activities were conducted. Participants engaged in open conversations and shared meaningful moments of mutual understanding through interactive programs such as a “North Korean Culture Quiz” and “Guess the Song Title.”

 

 

One participant shared, “I realized that reunification begins with small meetings and communication. By directly hearing and sharing about everyday life in North Korea, I felt that our hearts grew closer.”

Kim Seong-geun, CEO of Samho Tech Co., Ltd. and an advisor to HWPL’s peace initiatives, stated, “By asking questions directly to new settlers, I was able to experience the true meaning of genuine communication.”

 

 

In the subsequent performance session, a new settler singer—formerly a member of a North Korean arts troupe—performed “Fly High, Little Dove,” a song symbolizing peace through the image of a dove. Following the performance, participants shared laughter and built empathy during a free question-and-answer session focused on the everyday cultures of North and South Korea.

Additionally, an HWPL Peace Educator emphasized in the lecture “Seeds of Peace” that respect for life and love for one’s community are the foundations of peace, highlighting that small, everyday actions can lead to harmony on the Korean Peninsula.

The event concluded with remarks by Ryu Hyang-seon, Domestic Affairs Team Leader of the HWPL Seoul–Gyeonggi East Branch, who shared future plans, stating, “The participation and communication between new settlers and local residents are practical first steps toward peaceful reunification through free interaction. Next year, we plan to regularize the ‘New Settlers’ Day of Dialogue’ with a continued focus on culture and exchange.”