South Koreans rush to recreate leaders Kim and Moon’s peace handshake at run-down film set

It was the first time a North Korean leader had set foot in the South since the 1950-1953 Korean war, and both leaders said they would work to denuclearise the peninsula and seek peace

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Two young girls recreate the handshake between South Korean leader Moon Jae-in and the North’s leader Kim Jong-un at a film set depicting the DMZ border truce village of Panmunjom. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:02pm, 9 May 2018Updated: 8:07pm, 9 May 2018

When a smiling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the border of their countries during a summit last month, images of the historic moment grabbed the world’s attention.

It was the first time a North Korean leader had set foot in the South since the 1950-1953 Korean war. Moon and Kim said they would work to denuclearise the Korean peninsula and seek a peace agreement to replace the 1953 armistice.

Since that April 27 encounter, a film set version of the compound where the leaders met has become popular with South Koreans, who line up to recreate the famous handshake and snap a photograph.

“It is much more realistic to actually see it here,” said Kim Sang-jin, 8, who watched the meeting live on television.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in approach each other for the famed handshake at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarised zone. Photo: Reuters

“I wondered how they felt when holding hands, and now my curiosity has been satisfied,” he told Reuters Television.