Unsettled Peace & Pastoral Monuments of Korean History; the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) extends largely from Gyeonggi-do to Gangwon-do, including seven different cities and smaller counties (called 'gun' in Korean) of Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje and Goseong. Thus, to make the most out of your limited time, it is advised to make a plan in advance for which region you would be most interested in visiting. After choosing one area, it will be much easier for you to look around the nearby attractions, centering on and around your choice of DMZ destination. 

More importantly, you are required to bring legitimate form(s) of identification and/or your passport when going to the DMZ. Photography is another item that should be considered. Although it is a highly restricted action in many of these areas, you will still have plenty of photo ops at multiple designated areas.

• - Imjingak Resort (Nuri Peace Park) 

  Established in 1972 immediately after the declaration of the joint South-North armistice, Imjingak Pavilion exhibits various relics and monuments related to the Korean War and subsequent South-North confrontations. Nuri Peace Park, housed on the same site, is a large park that can accommodate up to 20,000 tourists at a time. The park has a variety of sculpted artworks and visitors can enjoy performances on the hill.
  • Address: 148-53, Imjingak-ro, Munsan-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
  • Operating hours: 09:00-18:00
    ※ Cafés and restaurants within Imjingak Resort are open until 20:00.
  • Website: imjingak.co.kr (Korean only)

• - The 3rd Tunnel 

  Discovered in 1978, the 3rd tunnel was dug by the Northern army to spy on their Southern counterparts. The tunnel is 1.64-kilometers long, 2-meters high and 2-meters wide. It is a prime example of the South-North confrontation.
  • Address: 210-358, Je3ttanggul-ro, Gunnae-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
    ※ To enter the 3rd Tunnel, visitors are required to apply and register in advance (Application process can be done at Imjingak Tourist Information Center for travelers touring by bus, while travelers on the DMZ Train can do so at Imjingang Station).
  • Operating hours (monorail): Weekdays (Tuesday-Friday) 4 times a day (09:20, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00) / Weekends (Saturday-Sunday) 6 times a day (09:20, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30)
    ※ Closed Mondays and public holidays in Korea
  • Fees: Adults 12,200 won / Teenagers & Children 9,500 won
    ※ The fees include fare for monorail ride and shuttle bus service.

• - Dorasan Station 

  Dorasan Station is one of the northernmost railway stations on the Gyeongui Line, connecting Seoul to Sinuiju. The station is located in the zone that strictly restricts general civilian access. From the station, visitors can view Dorasan Mountain and the barbed wire fences of the Southern Limit Line.
  
  
  TIP) Tour package must be purchased in advance in order to tour around The 3rd Tunnel. For details on the tour package, kindly inquire at +82-1544-7788 (Korean) or +82-1599-7777 (English) via phone call.
  
  
  • Address: 307, Huimang-ro, Jangdan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
    ※ To enter Dorasan Station, visitors are required to apply and register in advance (Application process can be done at Imjingak Tourist Information Center for travelers touring by bus, while travelers on the DMZ Train can do so at Imjingang Station).
  • Operating hours: From sunrise to sunset.
    ※ Operating hours are subject to change depending on the season and will vary by weather conditions.

• - Panmunjeom (Joint Security Area) 

  Geologically speaking, Panmunjeom is a small chunk of a land located near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in Jinseo-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. Formerly called 'Neolmulli', as mere plank of woods ('neolpan' in Korean) were used to erect this establishment long ago, it was thankfully given a new name later. Marking the 'Military Armistice Conference' held in October 1951, the official name was rewritten into the current name of 'Panmunjeom,' and is more widely known as the Joint Security Area (JSA), where blue and white huts are administrated by the United Nations Military and North Korean military, respectively.
  • Address: Gunnae-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
  • Operating hours: Monday-Saturday, 3 times a day (09:45, 13:15, 15:15)
    ※ Private tours are not permitted. Visitors can tour Panmunjeom only by group tour arranged by official authorities and/or travel agencies who have a permit. Tours are not available on Sundays or public holidays in Korea.

• - The 2nd Tunnel (Cheorwon) 

  This infiltration tunnel dug by the North Korean army, the second of its kind, was discovered in 1975. With a height and width of 2 meters each, up to 30,000 soldiers could pass through in one hour in addition to tanks, allowing for a large-scale penetration of the nation's defensive line. Inside the cave is a large holding chamber where the troops could gather, with the path splitting into three exits.
  • Address: 1484, Durumi-ro, Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ The 2nd Tunnel can be accessed only by purchasing a packaged security tour program (The 2nd Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory, Woljeongni Station), and visitors are required to apply and register in advance for admittance from Cheorwon Tourist Information Center at Iron Triangle Battlefield Memorial.
    ※ Cheorwon Tourism Office is closed on Tuesdays, Children's Day (May 5th), day of Marathon Competition (planned in September), New Year's Day (January 1st), and other public holidays in Korea. Please check in advance to confirm your day of travel is available for touring.
  • Operating hours (shuttle bus departure time): November-February 09:30, 10:30, 13:00, 14:00 / March-October 09:30, 10:30, 13:00, 14:30
    ※ The shuttle bus operates only during weekends; visitors can tour the sites by car on other days.
    ※ Visitors are required to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to departure in order to fill out the necessary forms for admission and to process registration for the tour.
  • Fees: Adults 4,000 won / Teens 3,000 won / Children 2,000 won
    ※ The fees above are security tour package fees that include admission to The 2nd Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory, and Woljeongni Station. Shuttle bus fare (8,000 won per person) should be paid separately.

• - Cheorwon Peace Observatory 

  Cheorwon Peace Observatory offers a view of the surrounding Cheorwon area and the DMZ, as well as a look into North Korea. The floor below the observation deck features a permanent exhibition displaying photographs of The 2nd Tunnel, soldiers' barracks, and checkpoints along the DMZ. The observatory can easily be accessed by all, thanks to the monorail that can carry up to 50 people per trip.
  • Address: 588-14, Junggang-ri Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ Cheorwon Peace Observatory can be accessed only by purchasing a packaged security tour program (The 2nd Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory, Woljeongni Station), and visitors are required to apply and register in advance for admittance from Cheorwon Tourist Information Center at Iron Triangle Battlefield Memorial.
  • Operating hours (Monorail): Schedule is subject to change without notice depending on the number of visitors expected. Please check in advance to confirm the available days from the operators.
  • Fees: Adults 4,000 won / Teenagers 3,000 won / Children 2,000 won (* Monorail use is not included in the price.)
    ※ The fees above are security tour package fees that include admission to The 2nd Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory, and Woljeongni Station. Shuttle bus fare (8,000 won per person) should be paid separately.

• - Woljeongni Station 

  After the armistice agreement, Woljeongni Station became the closest station to the Southern Limit Line. The reality of the division cannot be any clearer than here, where a sign reading "The Iron Horse wants to run again" stands before a train rusting at its spot on the tracks. Only the last cars of the train remain, as the front was used by the Northern army during retreat.
  • Address: 1882, Durumi-ro, Cheorwon-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ Woljeongni Station can be accessed only by purchasing a packaged security tour program (The 2nd Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory, Woljeongni Station), and visitors are required to apply and register in advance for admittance from Cheorwon Tourist Information Center at Iron Triangle Battlefield Memorial.
  • Fees: Adults 4,000 won / Teenagers 3,000 won / Children 2,000 won
    ※ The fees above are security tour package fees that include admission to The 2nd Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory, and Woljeong-ni Station. Shuttle bus fare (8,000 won per person) should be paid separately.

• - Cheorwon Korean Workers' Party Headquarters 

  Cheorwon Korean Workers' Party Headquarters was built in the Russian style, as North Korea had strong ties with the Soviet Union. The stairs leading to the front door are marked by the tracks of a South Korean tank and the walls of the building are still scarred with pockmarks from the many bullets and shells. In contrast to this image of the war, the back garden bursts with Rose of Sharon trees, the national flower.
  • Address: Gwanjeon-ri, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ Admission to Cheorwon Korean Workers' Party Headquarters is available by purchasing a DMZ Train packaged tour program. Tourists who are not with the program may also be admitted by buying an admission ticket on-site.
  • Operating hours (Train schedule): 09:27 (departing from Seoul Station)
    ※ Closed Mondays, Children's Day (May 5th), New Year's Day (January 1st), other public holidays in Korea, and scheduled maintenance days.
  • Fees: Adults 20,000 won / Teenagers 18,000 won / Children 16,500 won
    ※ The fees above include fare for the shuttle bus service, meals, and tourist facilities included on the itinerary. The DMZ train ticket should be purchased separately.

• - Seungilgyo Bridge 

  The name of Seungilgyo Bridge was known to be a portmanteau of the two leaders of Korea at the time of the war, Syngman Rhee and Kim Il-sung, but it was actually named after a soldier who died in the war. The bridge is unique in that it was jointly built by both nations. The bridge was started during the war, in what was North Korean land. However, after the Armistice Agreement, the land was given to South Korea, who then finished building the bridge.
  • Address: Galmal-eup, Munhye-ri, Jangheung4-ri, Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ To visit Seungilgyo Bridge, visitors are required to apply and register in advance at Cheorwon Tourist Information Center at Iron Triangle Battlefield Memorial.

• - The 4th Tunnel 

  In 1990, the fourth infiltration tunnel dug by the North Korean Army was discovered. Visitors can enter the tunnel only as far as 100m from the DMZ, where a blockade has been placed to close the tunnel. At the entrance to the tunnel is a security education center, which displays rusty canteens and helmets among other paraphernalia belonging to North Korean soldiers during the war.
  • Address: 233-4, Ihyeon-ri, Haean-myeon, Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ The 4th Tunnel can be accessed only by purchasing a packaged tour (Eulji Observatory, The 4th Tunnel, War Memorial Museum in Yanggu) in advance at Yanggu Unification Hall.
    ※ Foreigners of certain nationalities may be denied admittance, therefore it is advised to correctly identify and answer the physical-specific questionnaire (e.g., Name / date of birth / skin color, pupil color, hair color, etc.) when filling registration to avoid any inconvenience.
  • Operating hours: March-October 09:00-18:00 / November-February 09:00-17:00
    ※ Closed Mondays (in the case of a public holiday falling on Monday, the following working day will be closed instead), New Year’s Day (January 1st) and morning hours during Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays
  • Fees (Package admission): Adults & Teenagers 3,000 won / Children 1,500 won
    ※ Package admission fees include admission to Eulji Observatory, The 4th Tunnel, and The War Memorial Museum in Yanggu.

• - War Memorial Museum in Yanggu 

  Yanggu is home to some of the fiercest battlegrounds from the Korea War. To commemorate the battle and the lives lost, the War Memorial Museum of Yanggu was built. The exhibition hall displays over 500 weapons and other items from the war. The museum also features a corner showcasing testimonies from survivors, giving a glimpse into how life was during the war.
  • Address: 1324, Peonchibol-ro, Haean-myeon, Yanggu-eup, Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ War Memorial Museum in Yanggu can be accessed only by purchasing a packaged tour (Eulji Observatory, The 4th Tunnel, War Memorial Museum in Yanggu), and visitors are required to apply and register in advance for admittance at Yanggu Unification Hall.
  • Operating hours: March-October 09:00-18:00 / November-February 09:00-17:00
    ※ Closed Mondays (in the case of a public holiday falling on Monday, the following working day will be closed instead), New Year’s Day (January 1st) and morning hours during Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays
  • Fees (Package admission): Adults & Teenagers 3,000 won / Children 1,500 won
    ※ Package admission fees include admission to Eulji Observatory, The 4th Tunnel, and The War Memorial Museum in Yanggu.

• - Eulji Observatory 

  Eulji Observatory is located approximately 1km south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The view from the observation deck includes five peaks from Geumgangsan Mountain in North Korea, known to be one of the most beautiful mountains on the Korean peninsula. The observatory is also considered one of the best places to view Punch Bowl basin shrouded in mist.
  • Address: Hyeon2-ri, Haean-myeon, Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do
    ※ Eulji Observatory can be accessed only by purchasing a packaged tour (Eulji Observatory, The 4th Tunnel, War Memorial Museum in Yanggu) and visitors are required to apply and register in advance for admittance at Yanggu Unification Hall.
  • Operating hours: March-October 09:00-18:00 / November-February 09:00-17:00
    ※ Closed Mondays (in the case of a public holiday falling on Monday, the following working day will be closed instead), New Year’s Day (January 1st) & morning hours during Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays
  • Fees (Package admission): Adults & Teenagers 3,000 won / Children 1,500 won
    ※ Package admission fees include admission to Eulji Observatory, The 4th Tunnel, and The War Memorial Museum in Yanggu.