South Korea launched a special express railway linking Asia and Europe on Tuesday, seeking to crank up political, economic and cultural ties with the region and rally the global community behind its commitment to a peaceful reunification with North Korea.

More than 200 South Koreans gathered at Seoul Station before setting out on a 20-day, 14,400-kilometer journey on the “Eurasia Express,” displaying their resolve and sharing their mission statement. They then flew to Vladivostok, the train’s starting point, while some 50 others departed for Beijing to take a branch line designed to merge with the main route through Berlin in the eastern Russian city of Irkutsk on July 19 via Ulaan Bator.

The participants include high-flying figures from the political, business, academic and cultural sectors as well as the offspring of independent fighters and other special guests and ordinary citizens who won a contest.

The project is a signature piece of President Park Geun-hye’s “Eurasia Initiative,” aimed at expanding partnerships with other countries there by connecting roads and railways such as the Trans-Korean Railway and the wider Trans-Siberian Railroad reaching Europe.

“I wish the express will be a meaningful event to distribute and share our people’s dreams, hopes and resolve for peace and unification with the international community,” Park said in a video message unveiled at the launching ceremony.

“We should realize our dream of a peaceful unification by reconnecting the broken tracks between the South and North and make our way to a country that contributes to global peace and mutual development by making Eurasia a continent that represents creativity and peace.”

Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong called the train a “hardware for integration” to embody one continent, saying it may help overcome the disconnect between the two continents and form a broad economic bloc through comprehensive transportation and logistics infrastructure.

“The Korean Peninsula, which has over the past decades become a virtual island, is now taking a first step in the crucial process of being reborn as a bridge between the Eurasia and Asia-Pacific economic blocs,” he said in his congratulatory remarks.

“I believe this will contribute to realizing Eurasia’s potentials and world peace and shared prosperity, benefiting all nations.”

At each stop including Moscow and Warsaw, there will be forums and seminars such as on business, logistics, cultural exchanges, foreign affairs and unification.

The biggest events are scheduled in Berlin, the final destination, such as a music concert in front of Brandenburg Gate, a conference on unification and a march to the Berlin Wall marking the 25th anniversary of the unification of East and West Germany and the 70th anniversary of the separation of the Korean Peninsula.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)