Train: the Most Important Element in Snowpiercer

   If new ice age starts again, what could you do to be survived? There is a place that you can live: a train. The movie named Snowpiercer, directed by Joon-ho Bong in 2013, is a science fiction thriller film that deals with living in the ice age. And the train is a very important element in the movie because it is the only place to be survived and reflects our real society.
   The train is influential in the movie because it is the only place to be survived in the ice age. The nations release the substance CW-7 with the intention of controlling the global warming, but accidentally it results in another ice age which is destroying the Earth. Then the transportation magnate, Wilford, creates a massive train named Snowpiercer which is driven by perpetual motion engine. The train travels a circumnavigation track and the survivors only can live in the train. The train is the key as the background device to make progress in the story.
   In addition, the train plays a role to reflect our real society. For 17years, the train has been hurtled around the globe creating its own economy and class system. The elite live in the front section of the train which is luxurious and extravagant having enough foods and drinks. On the other hand, a group of lower-class citizens live in squalor at the back of the train. And they are brought only gelatinous protein bars to eat and kept in their place in the social order under watch by Wilford’s guards. Those show a gap between the rich and the poor well which really exists in our society.
   The movie, Snowpiercer, could not go along without the setting train as the important place because main characters only can live in the train and reflects irrationalities of the society. And through those setting, the movie has been considered by many viewers that the subject of the movie is fresh and also it reminds people the seriousness of global warming and the problem of wealth gap.

Advantages of Gangwon-do DMZ Geo-park

DMZ (demilitarized zone) of Gangwon province in Korea was designated as a geo-park by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2012. The geo-park is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way, and promotes the economic well-being of the people who live there. This geo-park cooperates with Gangwon-do, and five local autonomous entities such as Cheolwon-gun, Hwacheon-gun, Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, and Goseong-gun. The Gangwon-do DMZ geo-park can cause positive effects that it contributes to the securing of DMZ, revival of the local economy, and enhancement of tourists’ satisfaction as a geo-tourism.

One merit of the Gangwon-do DMZ geo-park is that it assists to the securing of international competitiveness of DMZ. The demilitarized zone of Gangwon-do was stuck in tension previously because of the war in Korea. After the ceasefire, residence and development were banned or restricted in the area for 60 years. Because of that reason, people tended to be reluctant to visit the area and even if they want to visit there they needed strong confirmation process. However, through the designation as a geo-park, the demilitarized zone was recreated as zone of peace symbolically.

The Gangwon-do DMZ geo-park has the other benefit that it helps the regional economy of the bordering districts to grow maintaining their environment and culture at the same time. As DMZ of Gangwon-do was designated as the geo-park, new local jobs were stimulated such as tour guide using human resources. Also, residents develop and sell local specialty such as liquor made with nature pine mushrooms and Hwangtae which is dried pollack. Then local people can get more money than before.

In addition, the Gangwon-do DMZ geo-park can enhance the tourists’ satisfaction. The DMZ of Gangwon-do has diverse heritages as landform, geology, culture, ecology and history. Local guides teach tourists about their nature and ecological system such as red-crowned crane which is natural monument. And the tourists can learn their history such as Korean War and their local culture such as making rice cake. The travelers can experience firsthand local culture, and it helps them promote understanding of the nature and culture of the place they visit.

The advantages of Gangwon-do DMZ geo-park are contribution to the securing of DMZ, revival of the local economy, and promotion of tourists’ satisfaction as a geo-tourism. DMZ in Gangwon-do has been formed in history of Korea, and possesses cultures unique to DMZ. By using that, this geo-tourism aims to promote the sustainable development of its bordering districts while maintaining the history, culture, and eco-resources unique to this district.