Women Cross DMZ | Ending The Korean War, Reuniting Families

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Hundreds gather in Washington, DC for Korea Peace Action

Read about our historic national gathering for the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.

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Hundreds gather in DC for Korea Peace Action

Women Cross DMZ is a global movement of women mobilizing for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Education Advocacy Organizing

Latest News

The Feminist Peace Playbook: A Guide to Transforming U.S. Foreign Policy

March 27, 2025

Just Released! Report on Women’s Rights in Korea

March 3, 2025

New Report Highlights How Women’s Rights Have Suffered Under Korea’s Division System

March 3, 2025

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On October 30, 2024, Christine Ahn, Women Cross DM

On October 30, 2024, Christine Ahn, Women Cross DMZ Founder and Co-Director, was barred from boarding an Asiana Airlines flight from Honolulu to the Republic of Korea. Ahn was on her way to deliver the keynote address at the International Youth Peace Forum in Gyeonggi Province, set to be hosted by the provincial government on November 2, 2024. The Asiana agent informed Ahn that, after checking with R.O.K. immigration authorities, they were not authorized to provide Ahn with a boarding pass. Ahn was told that the R.O.K. official provided no explanation, only that Ahn was denied entry into South Korea.

Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, it is clear we are in a time of rising global authoritarianism. The international community must push back against authoritarian governments that are repressing and violating the human rights of peace activists.

✍️ Sign on to lift this ban on Christine Ahn’s travel at bit.ly/liftingtheban or the link in bio! Read the full press release in English and Korean also at the link in bio.

Our Co-Director Cathi Choi writes about the need f

Our Co-Director Cathi Choi writes about the need for U.S. presidential candidates Harris and Trump to develop a new approach to North Korea in the National Interest. At their first debate, Trump boasted that North Korea is “afraid” of him, while Harris accused Trump of exchanging “love letters” with Kim Jong-un. Both failed to address how they will actually avert nuclear war in Korea. U.S. policy needs a new approach: a peace agreement now.

The majority of people in the U.S. still support diplomatically engaging with North Korea to reduce tensions and avoid military confrontation. Engagement is not “cozying up” to North Korea; rather, it is the prerequisite for peaceful coexistence and averting nuclear war. No amount of militarized escalation or sanctions will resolve the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula. We must instead maximize our efforts for diplomacy.

Read the full article at the link in bio.

Both Harris and Trump must address how they plan t

Both Harris and Trump must address how they plan to de-escalate rising tensions across the Korean peninsula.🧵On comparing Harris vs. Trump's stances on Korea and where they stand on the issue of Korea peace ahead of the presidential debates tonight.

#koreapeacenow #debate2024

"Midsummer Dreams for Korea Peace,” our July 202

"Midsummer Dreams for Korea Peace,” our July 2024 fundraiser is now live on Youtube!

Korean War historian Bruce Cumings, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen @viet_t_nguyen and Emmy award-winning producer and director Deann Borshay Liem @deannborshayliem joined a moderated discussion with our Co-Director Cathi Choi @cathischoi on challenging entrenched narratives of the so-called “forgotten war.” Afterwards, artist Dohee Lee @doheepuriarts and Samsuk Ulim (삼석울림), including drummers Jiae Jang, JaeEun Jun, and Jio Im, offered an incredible performance featuring traditional Korean drums and rituals.

We are so grateful to all the community members who not only showed up to support us and our work to end the Korean War, but also to those who supported through donations, volunteered their time and energy, took photos and videos, and helped make this event possible.

We ended the afternoon with bites and drinks in the courtyard, remarks from Women Cross DMZ Board Chair Aiyoung Choi, Host Committee Member Leah Hong, connecting with old friends and making new ones. Head to our bio for the recording and highlights!

As we enter the next chapter of Women Cross DMZ with new Co-Directors Christine Ahn and Cathi Choi, we will need your continued support more than ever. Please consider donating if you haven’t already at the link in bio. Thank you for walking with us in this journey toward Korea peace.

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Angell Foundation
Asian Women United
@comptonfound
@kapeacefund

And special thanks to our host committee members: Alexandra Suh, Eunice Kwon, Jai Lee Wong, Jisung Catherine Kim, Leah Hong, Leslie Ito, Stella Chung, and Una Kim. We couldn’t have done it without you 🤝

📷 Photo credits to Taylor Kaltman @b1gpickle

Women Cross DMZ Co-Director Cathi Choi writes abou

Women Cross DMZ Co-Director Cathi Choi writes about the Biden administration’s renewal of the U.S. travel ban to North Korea in @thehill.

“Under this eight-year travel ban, we have missed opportunities not only to reunite families, but also for people-to-people exchanges that would include discussing climate policies and disability rights — topics on which North Korea has previously engaged with international bodies and offer pathways towards engagement.

. . .

By renewing yet again this Trump-era policy, the Biden administration has failed to listen to the U.S. public and pursue a different approach. In addition to divided family members, everyday people in North Korea, South Korea and the United States will all suffer from these consequences.”

Read the full article at the link in bio.

Co-Directors Christine Ahn and Cathi Choi also sat down with @ktownsocialclub Michael Kim and Michael Won last week to discuss the origins of this travel ban and movement-building for Korea peace. Watch the interview at the link in bio.

Scenes from our Midsummer Dreams for Korea Pe

🪢 Scenes from our Midsummer Dreams for Korea Peace

Thank you to everyone who attended last Sunday’s “Midsummer Dreams for Korea Peace,” a fundraiser for Women Cross DMZ held in Los Angeles! We are so grateful to all the community members who not only showed up to support us and our work to end the Korean War, but also to those who supported through donations, volunteered their time and energy, took photos and videos, and helped make this event possible.

After a moderated discussion on challenging entrenched narratives of the so-called “forgotten war" with Korean War historian Bruce Cumings, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen @viet_t_nguyen and Emmy award-winning producer and director Deann Borshay Liem @deannborshayliem we witnessed an incredible performance by artist Dohee Lee @doheepuriarts and Samsuk Ulim (삼석울림), including drummers Jiae Jang, JaeEun Jun, and Jio Im.

We ended the afternoon with bites and drinks in the courtyard, remarks from Women Cross DMZ Board Chair Aiyoung Choi, Host Committee Member Leah Hong, connecting with old friends, and making new ones. Head to our bio to read more highlights from Sunday!

As we enter the next chapter of Women Cross DMZ with new Co-Directors Christine Ahn and Cathi Choi, we will need your continued support more than ever. Please consider donating if you haven’t already at the link in bio. Thank you for walking with us in this journey toward Korea peace.

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Angell Foundation
Asian Women United
@comptonfound
@kapeacefund

And special thanks to our host committee members: Alexandra Suh, Eunice Kwon, Jai Lee Wong, Jisung Catherine Kim, Leah Hong, Leslie Ito, Stella Chung, and Una Kim. We couldn’t have done it without you 🤝

Stay tuned for more photos and videos over the coming days!

📸 Cover photo credit: Enji Chung @desertocotillo
📸 Photo credit 2-6: Taylor Kaltman @b1gpickle

Upcoming Events

Launching the Feminist Peace Playbook: A Guide to Transforming U.S. Foreign Policy

Church Center for the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza East, 2nd Floor, New York City

Event date: Thursday, March 13 at 2:30pm ET |

Women and Families in Conflict-related Sexual Violence: Transnational Lessons from Asia & Latin America

10th Floor of the Church Center of the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017

Event date: March 12, 2025 at 8:30am ET |

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“In 2015 when 30 women leaders from around the world formed Women Cross DMZ—and actually got permission from North Korea, South Korea, and the U.S. to cross that land-mined and desolate strip dividing Korea—it was a radical act of the imagination. … Now, the leaders on all sides are running to catch up with their followers.”
— Gloria Steinem

Women Cross DMZ