When I was searching for things to do in Seoul, one of the interesting activities that always popped up was a visit to the Demilitarized Zone, also known as the DMZ. Instead of doing it myself during the first leg of my Seoul trip, I asked my friends if they wanted to do it together. Apparently, it was also on their list, haha. So it was not a hard decision for us.
I skipped this and waited a few weeks before booking the tour. I met many people who had done the trip, and all of them raved about it. Some even said that our legs should be ready for the “Third Infiltration Tunnel” tour, which is the most challenging part of the tour.
WHAT IS THE DMZ
The Demilitarized Zone is a buffer zone between North and South Korea. It is called such as it is a “peaceful” strip of land across the Korean Peninsula between the two nations. It was established by the Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953.
And yes, you can see part of North Korea from this point.
We booked our tour via KLOOK Travel. As with most KLOOK bookings, this one was pretty easy. There are many DMZ Tours available. You can also book it through your hotel/hostel concierge, but at our hotel, it was a little bit complicated, so we opted to use KLOOK.
Where I stayed in Seoul:
Important Notes:
- You need to bring your passport as it will be collected and needed during a checkpoint before entering the DMZ. It was a quick checkpoint, so you should not be alarmed or anything.
- For the dress code, we were not asked to dress a certain way. I think just wear something comfortable. We went during the latter part of autumn, so we wore coats and long pants.
- There are shops for souvenirs, and most (if not all) accept international cards. I didn’t encounter a shop without a card machine.
The moment our bus arrived in the “allowed zone,” I am sure all of us were thinking about that particular scene in "Crash Landing on You." This moment alone made us feel that we got our ROI already.
I don’t know if it is just me, but the whole feel of the DMZ is the idea that someday, this border will not exist anymore, and people can freely go to both countries without any restrictions. But as we all know, as of now, that is still far from reality.
Here are the things we did during our time in the DMZ:
IMJINGAK PEACE PARK
Imjingak Park is the starting point of our tour. It is on the edge of the Civilian Control Zone. I think all tours around the DMZ go here. This is where we see a lot of memorial sites that serve as an introduction to what you’ll expect in the DMZ and the conflict between the North and South.
WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN IMJINGAK PARK:
- Freedom Bridge
- Mangbaedan Altar
- Peace Bell
- Steam Locomotive at Jangdan Station
- Imjingak Pavilion
- DMZ Ecology Park
A preserved train that was used to travel between North and South Korea. There is still the hope that someday this "iron horse will run again"
If you want a piece of North Korea, there is also a small stall that sells North Korean money (which at this point I forgot where I kept it, huhuh).
THE THIRD INFILTRATION TUNNEL
This is where you need a lot of stamina and endurance. It is roughly a 350-meter walk inside a tunnel that was supposed to be secretly dug by North Koreans under the DMZ to send troops to the South.
There was a short film detailing the history of the tunnel. According to the information given to us, there are several tunnels like this around the border that were discovered.
While the Third Infiltration Tunnel can be accessed by tourists (well, just part of it), we were not allowed to bring our phones and cameras. It is also a narrow tunnel, so we needed helmets (which they provided) to avoid accidental head injuries.
DORA OBSERVATORY
Our last major stop was the Dora Observatory. This is one of the most surreal experiences in the DMZ, as you can see parts of North Korea from the observatory.
From the binoculars provided, you can see the Kaesong Region, which is the southernmost city of North Korea. At one point, I might have seen some people walking around also.
The city of Kaesong
It is indeed a very interesting attraction to see/book. As a tourist, this is something that, for most of us, is a “fun experience.” Walking where a momentous history happened, taking photos, and buying souvenirs. But if you think about it, the DMZ is a reminder that the conflict between these two nations is not yet resolved. There are still families that got separated due to this conflict.
I find that visiting such a place is not just an attraction but an eye-opener that there are people who are still stripped of the same freedom that we take for granted every day.
Note:
*Some of the links in the blog are affiliate links which help me keep this blog running. If you support and use these links, I will appreciate it so much.
*Accommodations are based only on the ones I used. These are budget hotels, hostels, and guesthouses, and the prices are fairly reasonable for what they offer. Most of these accommodations are located in town centers and are accessible to bus stations and train stations, which were the criteria for my chosen lodging.
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