My name is Margaret Meejung Gerhart, and I was adopted from Korea when I was 2 years old and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Returning to Korea for this Fulbright year feels like both a homecoming and a new adventure.
I’m a designer, landscape architect, and peace activist, and I am spending the year studying and drawing the DMZ -- the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea. Many people think of the DMZ only as a militarized border, but it’s also a living landscape. There are farmers whose fields are affected by it, migratory birds that stop in its wetlands, and plants and animals that thrive in places where people cannot go. I’m curious about all of these stories and how they connect to Korean history and culture as a whole.
Through my project, I want to make the history and everyday reality of the DMZ easier to understand for a wide audience, including young people like you. My hope is to show that the DMZ is more than a line on a map -- it’s a place filled with life, memory, and possibility.
During my time here, I’ll be visiting different parts of the DMZ region, talking with people whose lives are shaped by it, and documenting what I see. I’ll also be spending time in Seoul and other parts of Korea, learning more about the culture, food, and traditions. Along the way, I’ll share updates, images, and reflections with you so you can experience a little piece of Korea too.
I’m very excited to share this journey with you, and I hope my stories spark your own curiosity about history, peace, and the ways people and nature are connected across borders.
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
