A Farewell Message from WCDMZ Founder, Christine Ahn
Dear Friends,
After a decade of founding and leading Women Cross DMZ, I am stepping down at the end of this year, and as of January 1, 2025, my Co-Director, Cathi Choi, will become our second-ever Executive Director. I will join the Institute for Policy Studies as a Fellow and continue to serve as Strategic Advisor to Women Cross DMZ.
Some of you may be wondering why I’m stepping down now, at this crucial moment for democracy in South Korea and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Here’s my answer: We’ve built a solid organization and our movement is growing, and now we have a smart, courageous and inspiring leader — our beloved Cathi Choi — who can take us to new heights. As a member of a divided family, Cathi understands the trauma of the unresolved Korean War. And as a Harvard-trained lawyer who has defended victims of police brutality and workers’ rights, she brings the intellect and determination needed to lead us through the many challenges that lie ahead. I also believe strongly in the leadership and power of the next generation, which is crucial for our continued success.
On a personal note, I need to devote more time to my family, especially my daughter, who has been with me throughout this journey, including on the trip to Pyongyang when Hye-Jung Park and I went to negotiate the DMZ crossing. And frankly, my nervous system also needs to rest.
Though deeply meaningful, this work is extremely hard on the body, mind, and spirit. As anyone who has led a nonprofit can attest, the demands are endless. But it has also been challenging, to say the least, to be on the receiving end of racist, misogynistic, and McCarthyist attacks for taking a stand for peace and justice. While I consider it a badge of honor to have been banned from entering South Korea — now twice — by authoritarian leaders Park Geun-hye and Yoon Seok-yeol, it’s still painful not to be able to visit my family, friends, fellow activists, parents’ burial site and birthplace.
What has sustained me all these years, however, is all of you — our diverse, multi-generational transnational movement — working together for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in our world. I’ve been blessed to work with the most dedicated and savvy staff and board who make Women Cross DMZ a small but truly powerful advocacy and organizing force. I’m deeply moved by our community of advisors and allies who have shared analyses, insights and opportunities, and to our hundreds of generous donors who have sustained our grassroots, women-led movement for years — some for a decade. And I am deeply grateful for the extraordinary pro bono legal support from Steptoe LLP, and for IT/digital security from Tiny Gigantic.
Challenging a 70-plus-year-old state narrative that has kept the Korean War as the United States’ oldest, ongoing war has indeed been a herculean task. But together, we have made an indelible impact, and I believe under Cathi’s leadership we will continue to make waves.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out my dream — literally — that women will end the Korean War. It has been my honor to lead and grow Women Cross DMZ and help midwife two trailblazing collaborations with our feminist partners, the Korea Peace Now! campaign and the Feminist Peace Initiative.
None of this would have been possible without the faith and support of each of you. Your belief in this movement has strengthened our global, peace-loving community, one that dares to envision a brighter future for all. In just the past few weeks, since Yoon’s martial law declaration, our team has proven its resilience, swiftly mobilizing to provide incisive analysis in global media and organizing grassroots actions nationwide. I am confident that under Cathi’s leadership, Women Cross DMZ will remain the leading voice for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Please join me in supporting this work by making a donation today.
Like the generations of courageous Korean Americans who came before me, I will always be part of the movement for Korean independence, peace, and reunification — the movement that sparked my political activism and continues to fuel my fire brightly.
‘Til our next action together…
With deep gratitude and in friendship,
Christine Ahn
