The South Korean government has announced plans to create a walking trail for civilians to enjoy along the demilitarized zone.<br />The trail will offer a chance to experience at least ten different regional cultures, and its thanks to the easing of military tensions between the two Koreas.<br />Our Park Hee-jun has more. One of the most heavily militarized areas in the world... is going to become a place for cultural exchange.<br />South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Safety announced on Sunday... that it will create a tourist attraction along the border areas of the demilitarized zone.<br />And that attraction, it said,... will be the Korean version of the Santiago walking trail in Spain -- one of the longest and most challenging hikes in the world.<br /><br />The ministry plans to spend 25 million U.S. dollars to create a trail 456 kilometers long. It will connect ten cities between the Ganghwa district of Incheon and Goseong County in Gangwon-do Province. <br />And along the trail, visitors will have the chance to experience each region's unique culture and history... as well as the reality of the two Koreas' division.<br />Closed-down schools and community centers will also be renovated for use as guesthouses, restaurants and cafes.<br />Work on the project is expected to continue until 2022.<br /><br />For 65 years, the DMZ has been a highly-restricted no-man's land.<br />But significant changes have been made there... since the two Koreas agreed to reduce military tensions in September.<br />They removed 11 guard posts on each side.<br />And the they've been moving to simplify the identification process for civilians who wish to enter areas near the border.<br /><br />According to the ministry, not only will the trail be a symbol of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula,... it's also expected to contribute to the local economy, attracting one million visitors and more than 220 million dollars of profit a year.<br /><br />Park Hee-jun, Arirang News. <br />
