Seoul: All 12 peace-themed walking routes near the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas will open for this year's program, the government announced Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated in a joint press release with related government offices that the trails, collectively known as the DMZ Peace Trail, will be open from April 17 to November 30. Operations will be temporarily suspended in July and August due to the summer heat.

The trails, which traverse border cities and towns in Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon provinces, were established in 2019 to provide South Korean citizens a unique opportunity to explore the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of one of the world's most tightly secured borders. Despite some routes operating on a limited basis due to security and other reasons, all operations pause during the extreme winter months before reopening for the new season. The DMZ, approximately 250 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, has divided the peninsula since the 1950-53 Korean War concluded in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.

This year's program includes sections inside the DMZ in Paju, Cheorwon, and Goseong, as mentioned by ministry officials. The government intends to increase the number of available operating days and participants this year to provide more people the opportunity to experience the area.

Access remains limited to South Korean nationals. Participants must register in advance through the official DMZ Peace Trail website (www.dmzwalk.com) or the Durunubi travel app. The participation fee is set at 10,000 won ($6.65) per person.