Korean Peace Marathoner on his Experience in Georgia
Dr. Song InYeup, Professor of the Korean National University, Friendship Ambassador of KoreaVolunteer Organization International (KVO International), Chief Representative of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) recently visited Georgia together with Korean peace marathoner and writer Mr. Kang MyongKu, as a part of the Run-Eurasia-16,000km-Peace Marathon. The marathon is on from September 1, 2017- October 31, 2018. Georgia was the 9th country on their list of 18 countries to run through and they arrived in January, alongside Mr. Park HoJin, Mr. Kang MyongKu’s manager. The 14-month running marathon encompasses The Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, China, North Korea and eventually to South Korea (Seoul).
The Run-Eurasia-16,000km-Peace Marathon participants say it is “the first and most difficult adventure in the long history of Mankind and serves as a chance to spread the atmosphere of Korean peaceful unification for world peace by removing the bad vestige of World War II.”
“We run not just for a Guinness Record, or for sportsmanship, but for world peace and the peaceful unification of Korea,” Dr. Song InYeup told GEORGIA TODAY. “We want to spread peace along our route through Eurasia and we are sure our story will inspire young people to adventure and encourage them to consider world citizenship. Georgia, is so peaceful, pretty and grand, lying between the Black Sea and Caucasus Mountains. Its people we met running along the road are so kind and generous,” he added.
“For me, Georgia is mystic, because it is connected with Greek mythology, especially Prometeus who gave fire to humans for the first time and was punished by Zeus, chained to the summit of Mr. Kazbegi,” said Mr. Kang. “I enjoyed running all through Georgia.”
They continued the Peace Marathon in Azerbaijan, aiming to run 45 kilometers every day, then on to Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kirkzstan, China, North Korea and ending the marathon in Seoul on October 31.
Dr. Song InYeup told us it was his first time in Georgia and he found himself so touched and impressed by the country, he came up with a poem dedicated to it.
“I was so greatly touched and impressed with the Georgian people’s kindness, the beauty of the land and quality of the wine, that I wrote a poem “Mystic Land, Georgia,” he said. “I hope your people like it and remember it as a poem of one Korean man who ran all through Georgia and fell in love with it!”
Mystic Land, Georgia
Dr. SONG InYeup
At the south of Mts Caucasus
Holding the Black Sea to the west
White clouds above our heads
Always
Sipping wine
Talking warmly with strangers
Treating them as guests from God
Hey, Turks, Persia, Soviets
No more here, please
This is the Republic of Georgia, forever
Handing fire to Mankind
Prometheus already left
Helped by Heracles
Still, eagles fly over mountains
How grand, the sky-penetrating Kazbeg
You are there as you've ever been
It's Gergeti Chminda Sameba
That's watched here as it's ever been
Under the picturesque mountains
Red roofs here and there
It's Village Signagi, isn't it?
Hey, you
Who are dreaming of love and peace
Never hesitate to come here
Tossing round pebbles
Pretty voices, murmuring ripples
And blue waves
Why are you called "Black Sea"?
At Batumi
The foolish traveller becomes a blank
Shouting "Tamada"
We sing, sing and sing
"Tavisuplebas Dideba!"
Raise your toast high
We glorify freedom, freedom and freedom!!!
(2018.1.18, at the valley of Mts Caucasus
Congratulating KMK’s 5,000km on Eurasia-16,000km-Peace Marathon)
Nino Gugunishvili