Going to DMZ is one of those "不到长城非好汉" things (He who doesn't reach the Great Wall is not a true man ~ meaning the Great Wall is a must-go in China) in the Korean context. Although I went to the Odusan Unification Observatory during late winter, I still wanted to make sure I strike this off my bucket list. I booked the DMZ 3rd tunnel and Panmunjeom tour with Seoul City Tour (135,000krw per pax), and had a enriching day of history lessons.
The timing to meet is very early 8.10am at Plaza Hotel, and it takes 1 hour to get there from where I stayed. From there, they will fetch you in a small bus to transfer you to the bigger tour bus.
Itinerary
Hotel - Imjingak Park - Freedom Bridge - The 3rd infiltration Tunnel - DMZ Theater / Exhibition Hall - Dora observatory - Dorasan Station - Unification Village (pass by) - Lunch - ID Check point - Camp Bonifas (Slide show and Briefing) - JSA Tour (Freedom House, Conference room, Bridge of No Refurn) - Drop off at Lotte Hotel (Myeongdong)
Do take note of the regulations to follow:
- When you arrive at Conference room, do not touch any equipment such as microphones or flags belonging to the communist side.
- Do not speak with, make any gesture toward or in any way, approach or respond to personnel from the other side.
- Sometimes military or other official considerations prevent entry into the joint security area.
- No shorts - for the skirt / dresses they need to cover knee.
- No sandals, flip-flop or slippers. Shoe must cover whole feet. (We recommend you to wear sneakers.)
- No t-shirts; must be collared shirts
- Shaggy or unkempt hair is not allowed either.
- The cameras with over 90mm zomming lens are not allowed.
-Children under 11 years are not allowed.
- Do not speak with, make any gesture toward or in any way, approach or respond to personnel from the other side.
- Sometimes military or other official considerations prevent entry into the joint security area.
- No shorts - for the skirt / dresses they need to cover knee.
- No sandals, flip-flop or slippers. Shoe must cover whole feet. (We recommend you to wear sneakers.)
- No t-shirts; must be collared shirts
- Shaggy or unkempt hair is not allowed either.
- The cameras with over 90mm zomming lens are not allowed.
-Children under 11 years are not allowed.
Roadside stall on the way to DMZ
UNCMAC guest tag that you should be wearing at all times
Camp Bonifas conference room
DMZ sign
The first stop was the third infiltration tunnel 제3땅굴, one of 4 known tunnels from the north, where we were taken into the depths of the tunnel via the train. You can choose to walk too, but you have to climb back up as well. The tunnel dug for the train was small and narrow. You can literally touch the walls of the tunnel. It can get quite chilly towards the bottom of the tunnel. Oh yes, remember your helmets!
Dora Observatory
View of North Korea
There is a photo line you need to take note of, and no zooming cameras allowed. There's soldiers on patrol, so don't try to disobey the rules! You can see North Korea through the binoculars though.
Old moneys of Korea
The tourguide explaining the train route outside Dorasan Station 도라산역 / 都羅山驛, the northernmost station of South Korea. Dorasan Station is a railway station on the Gyeongui Line and can be reached via Seoul Station.
Ticket I bought as a souvenir to view the train platform
To Pyeongyang
At the station platform
Not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North"
남쪽의 마지막 역이 아니라, 북쪽으로 가는 첫번째 역입니다
Immigration area in Dorasan station
Stopover for lunch
I ordered bulgogi, which is quite delicious in my opinion! The tourguide also explained that not all tours go to an authentic Korean restaurant for lunch.
Imjingak Park (임진각관광지)
Mangbaedan Monument (망배단 / 望拜壇)
Used by Koreans to perform ancestral rites by bowing towards their hometown every New Year's Day and Chuseok
Freedom bridge
Messages on the Freedom bridge
Imjingak Station which was destroyed during the 1950 conflict.
Train with bullet holes - A solemn reminder of the 1950 conflict
Ribbons with wishes of unification one day
Next up, Panmunjeom itself. Someone asked if the guards will be tired standing there the whole day, and the tourguide answered that they only stand there when the tourists come. Haha! Inside the conference room, everyone tried to stand on the "Northern" side of the room. I guess it's the only chance to be in North Korea. We were quite lucky though, as a few North Korean soldiers walked past the conference room while we were inside.
The North and The South
Korean soldier
And again, no tour will be complete without some shopping for souvenirs. Lots of military souvenirs available at Camp Bonifas if you want something as a keepsake.
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