September 1998:

The DMZ Forum was initiated as a joint program of the Institute of Public Administration at New York University (Dr. Seung-ho Lee), Pennsylvania State University Center for Biodiversity Research (Dr. Ke Chung Kim), and Wildlife Conservation Society (Dr. Robert Lee) to preserve the Koreas' Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) ecosystems as a Peace Park for environmental study and re-generating biodiversity in both South and North Korea.

March 20, 1999:

The Forum held its first international conference "Preserving Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for Conservaton Peace" at the Asia Society, sponsored by Institute of Public Administration, Penn State University Center for Biodiversity Research, Wildlife Conservation Society, Korean National Commission for UNESCO, The Asiana Airlines, Natsios Young Architects, and Kangwon Internet University.

May 28, 1999:

Dr. Seung-ho Lee participated in the conference "The DMZ in the 21st Century: An Ecological Treasure" in Seoul, Korea. The conference was organized by Seoul National University and the United Nations Development Program. He discussed sustainable environment management in the Paju Civilian Control Zone, where there is tightly controlled civilian activity adjacent to the DMZ.

May 1999:

Dr. Ke Chung Kim lectured at Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History.

October 1999:

Dr. Arthur Westing and Dr. Seung-ho Lee participated in an NGO conference in Seoul, Korea and organized a workshop on "The DMZ as a Transboundary Peace Park" with help from the Semin Foundation in Seoul, Korea.

October 15, 1999:

The DMZ Forum was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in New York State. Previously, it was a program of the non-profit Institute of Public Administration. It was awarded tax-exemption under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code in February 13, 2001.

May 5, 2000:

The DMZ Forum website "http://www.dmzforum.org" was created.

August 6, 2000:

Dr. Ke Chung Kim and Dr. Seung-ho Lee participated in the Peace Park Convention organized by American Psychological Association in Washington DC.

April 2, 2001:

The Sierra Club became the DMZ Forum's partner in making efforts to transform the DMZ into a world peace park.

May 16, 2001:

The Forum held a seminar, "Creating a World Peace Park in the Korea's DMZ" at New York University, sponsored by the Samuel Rubin Foundation, Institute of Public Administration, and Dr. Andrew Byongsoo Kim, Advisory Director at Sit Investment Associates, Sit/Kim International.

June 2001:

Dr. Seung-ho Lee gave a speech at the annual meeting of DMZ Veterans Association in Washington, DC.

July 27, 2001:

The Forum held a conference, "US Policy Toward North Korea--Managing the US-ROK Alliance" at New York University, sponsored by The Korea Society, The Asia Society, Institute of Public Administration, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and Pro Printing, Inc.

May 6-7, 2002:

The DMZ Forum and Korean Federation for Environmental Movement organized a conference "Environmental Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula: DMZ Ecosystem Conservation" at the 600th Anniversary Building of Sungkyunkwan University, and a field trip to the DMZ, sponsored by The Asia Foundation, Samuel Rubin Foundation, South Korean Ministry of Environment and the Korea Forest Service.

July 23, 2003

The DMZ Forum held a Conference for peace advocates and environmentalists to prepare a strategy to achieve the Forum’s mission. Harvard Professor Edward O. Wilson told the group that eco-tourism would be the most profitable use of the DMZ in addition to its multiple environmental benefits. Other speakers: Stephen Bosworth, Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and former Ambassador to South Korea; Cora Weiss, President of the Hague Appeal for Peace; David Benbow, President of the DMZ Veterans Association; John Klotz, Representative to the UN of the Sierra Club; and K.C. Kim, Penn State University Professor of Entomology.

July 15-16, 2004

The DMZ forum organized an international conference in Seoul, hosted and co-sponsored by Governor Hak-Kyu Sohn of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The Conference publicized the opportunity for the DMZ to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Cross-Boundary Peace Park. It featured speakers from UNESCO and the Peace Parks Foundation as well as environmental scientists and economists studying the economic value of environmental assets. Several South Korean environmental Non-Governmental Organizations took part.