IWPG Paju Branch Donates Poem Frame to Taegukgi Village

On September 9, 2025, the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) Paju Branch held a meaningful event at the senior center in Ballang 3-ri Taegukgi Village, Gwangtan-myeon, Paju. The ceremony marked the donation of a poem and painting frame commemorating Korea’s independence movement.

A Tribute to Independence and History

The event was attended by IWPG Paju Branch Director Choi Jae-soon, local members, senior residents of Ballang 3-ri, poet Gong Seok-jin, and Village Senior Association President Jang Jeong-ok.

Poet Gong recited his self-written poem titled “Do You Know Ballang-ri, the Village of Taegukgi?” before presenting it in a framed artwork to the senior center. Gong shared that he was inspired by the promise of Nam Sang-cheol, a descendant of independence activist Nam Dong-min, and expressed that Ballang-ri, as the starting point of the March 1 Independence Movement, stirred deep emotion in him.

This gesture fulfilled a promise Gong made during IWPG Paju Branch’s World Women’s Peace Network regular meeting on August 20, which was also held at the senior center in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day.

Honoring Through Words and Community Spirit

During the event, one elder moved to tears said, “We are very grateful and deeply touched that he created a poem specifically about our village.”

IWPG Paju Branch and the Gong Seok-jin Literary Museum have been continuing peace cooperation since signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in June 2025.

Director Choi Jae-soon reflected:

“Today’s event may be small, but just as small streams come together to form rivers and oceans, these small acts will build toward great peace. We also hope to conduct peace education so that this vision can be realized.”

The event in Taegukgi Village shows how literature, history, and community spirit come together to honor the past while nurturing peace for the future. 

About IWPG

The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) is a global women’s NGO with special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and registered with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC). With its vision of realizing sustainable world peace, IWPG promotes women’s peace education, the spread of a culture of peace, and international support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

Source: https://vo.la/aeJyCyR