Korea Day 16: Touring the DMZ
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) lies on the border of North and South Korea. The only way to visit is by guided tour. Two options are available for people wishing to visit, a half day tour or a full day. Bethany and I opted for the 6-hour half-day tour.
Touring the DMZ and learning about the history of conflict between North and South Korea from our tour guide really pulled at my heartstrings. My heart especially aches for all of the friends and family cut off from one another. In addition, it was also very surreal to visit an active military site that also doubles as a tourist attraction.
Day 16 Highlights
- Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Half-Day Tour
- Imjingak Park
- Dorasan Station
- Dora Observatory
- 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
- Korean Ginseng Center
- Downtown Seoul
- Insadong
- Kookmin
DMZ Tour
Heading to the DMZ
We arrived at Hongik University Station (our tour pickup spot) around 8 am and picked up a few things to eat for breakfast from a G25 convenience shop.
Our tour guide: Mr. Kim Gwang Hyeon was really informative. 
Barbwire fences and guard posts border the river approaching the DMZ 
Another place I never expected to visit.
Imjingak Park (Memorial Park)
Memorial Park is a place Koreans can come to remember and be as near as possible, their friends and family in North Korea, and those lost in the conflict. There are various memorials, tributes, and areas for people to write messages and prayers, take photos, and reflect.
Our tour bus 
Imjingak 
Memorial Park 
Freedom Bridge 
At the end of Freedom Bridge 
Steam Engine at Jangdan Station on the Gyeongui Line 
Pyeonghwa Land – this felt like an odd place for an amusement park
Check Point
Check-point 
checking out passports 
Passing over the river 
Dorasan Station
It is the hope of many that North and South Korea can be at peace in the future so that South Korea can build a railroad in North Korea to connect South Korea to the rest of the continent.
Inside the station 
North Korea separates South Korea from the rest of the continent. If peace is ever reached Dorsan Station will connect South Korea to the rest of the continent. 
Souvenir Tickets 
Stamping our tickets 
Track Entrance
DMZ Souvenir Shop 
This North Korean vodka can only be purchased here and seemed like a good gift for Karl. How many people can say they’ve tried North Korean vodka., even if it does taste like dirt? lol 
This sparkling yogurt beverage was very refreshing.
Dora Observatory
We visited the Dora Observatory where we were able to view the border of North and South Korea and North Korea’s infamous Propaganda Village. It felt very surreal to be so close to North Korea. It was really interesting, heartbreaking, and occasionally funny to learn about the history of North and South Korea and the DMZ. The flagpole war is one amusing conflict you can read about here.
The Dora Observatory 
My first view of North Korea 
Where the trees end is where North Korea begins. They chopped them all down to use as firewood. 
Propaganda Village: Fake city built to make North Korea look more prosperous than it is. 
Propaganda Village
North Korea Selfie 
Looking back towards South Korea
Lunch at the Dora Observatory Cafe 
The hotdogs were pretty good. We sat here till a window seat opened up. 
Heading back to the bus
The Third Tunnel
The Third Tunnel is one of four known tunnels dug by North Korea under the border into South Korea. When the tunnel was first discovered and South Korea complained about it, North Korea tried to say South Korea dug the tunnel. Eventually South Korea was able to prove North Korea dug the tunnel because the tunnel was dug ever so slightly downward in order to prevent water buildup. Overnight North Korea went in and painted coal dust on the sides of the tunnel and then came back and tried said it was a coal mine. What? lol
The information center contains the entrance to the Third Tunnel which has been made into a tourist attraction. Visitors can walk about a mile down into the tunnel. At the end visitors are only a few yards from the border line between North and South Korea. The inclined walk was a bit rough for me, but I’m glad I made it to the end and back. Sadly, photography wasn’t allowed. Visitors are required to stash all their belongings in a locker and wear a hardhat while inside the tunnel. Darktourists.com has some nice information and images of the tunnel that you can check out here.
Information Center & Tunnel Entrance 
Tunnel Entrance 
There’s a theatre and museum area across from the tunnel entrance. 
Inside the museum 
Korean Ginseng Center
Our final stop took us to the Korean Ginseng Center where we learned about the use and cultivation of high-quality ginseng. It was really neat to learn about ginseng and I enjoyed the museum exhibits on it very much.
Korean Ginseng Center 
Learning about ginseng
Downtown Seoul
After our tour we were dropped off near the US Embassy in downtown Seoul. We visited Gwanghwamun Square where the iconic statue of King Sejong the Great is located. King Sejong is well loved and celebrated for the creation of the Korean alphabet Hanguel. The history and development of the Hanguel alphabet is super interesting. Look it up if you’re a language nerd like me.
US Embassy 
Unicorn horn? 
Rainbow building 
Gwanghwamun Square 
King Sejong the Great – creator of the Korean alphabet Hangeul
Return to Insadong
Bethany and I went back to Insadong to do a little shopping and stopped by a Subway for dinner. I went back to SSAMZIGIL (쌈지길) to pick up a few things for friends back home.
Yummy blueberry slushie 
Dinner
Back at Kookmin
Charms for friends 
Traditional Grape Flavored Rice Snack 
Evening refreshments: coffee, yogurt, and a peach popsicle 
Dani visiting our room 
Homework in the Study Hall
View more photos from this day in our gallery.
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