DMZ
Next time you’re visiting Seoul, I suggest a taking a tour to the Korean DMZ: demilitarised zone. The border of North and South Korea is the world’s most heavily armed border and is considered one of the most dangerous places on Earth. However, despite this, tourists can enter the DMZ as part of a guided group tour and visit areas that hold a significant importance to the Korea war.
I went on a full-day guided tour with Seoul City Tours (booked through Klook) in 2024 and found it to be one of the most surreal experiences ever. There wasn’t a single moment on the tour where I felt unsafe either. The tour I chose was the full-day plus an additional stop at the Majang Lake Suspension Bridge which cost $62 USD ($97 AUD).
*Without the additional bridge option, it was about $10 AUD cheaper
Some things to expect
The tour itself takes about 8-9 hours with the bus leaving Seoul at 8am and returning at about 5pm. Throughout the tour’s entirety, there will be security checkpoints where South Korean militants will board the bus to inspect everyone’s passports. As part of safety measures, photos of South Korean military personnel and checkpoints are prohibited and if anyone is caught doing so, it can lead to severe consequences. Aside from the Third Tunnel of Aggression, all the other attractions allow pictures to be taken.
Where you’ll visit
1. Majang Lake Suspension Bridge (optional)
Probably the most aesthetically pleasing stop on the agenda, the Majang Lake Suspension Bridge is one of Korea’s longest suspension bridges (220m long) and was a key battleground during the Korean war. Besides walking across the bridge, you can walk along the lakeside however, there isn’t enough time to complete a lap of the lake since this is short stop of only about 45 minutes.
Honest opinion: I found it a bit underwhelming. It was nice to visit but it’s far from an essential add on.
2. Imjingak Park
Imjingpak Park is a memorial that houses many monuments dedicated towards the hope of future peace and unification of Korea. Here you’ll find Freedom Bridge which was used during the Korean war to exchange approximately 13,000 prisoners as well as a souvenir shop where North Korean money can be bought. One of the most interesting aspects of this area to me was the adjacent amusement park that was built to entertain children since Imjingpak is a popular gathering spot for South Korean families to mourn and remember loved ones that still live in the North.
3. Third Tunnel of Aggression
Located 73m underground, the Third Tunnel of Aggression is the third tunnel North Korean tunnel that South Korea discovered. Despite its small dimensions (2x2m), the tunnel has the capacity to move 30,000 soldiers each hour and was intended to be used as part of a surprise attack on Seoul before discovery. Visitors can enter the tunnel and get within 200m of North Korea before several lines of barricades prevent any possibility of going further.
This was my favourite part of the tour. Being within a North Korean tunnel and knowing I was only 200m away from the border was definitely an eerie feeling.
4. Dora Observatory
The Dora Observatory offers visitors the opportunity to view North Korea’s capital Pyongyang with their own eyes (with the aid of binoculars). Aside from the 160m flagpole, there isn’t too much to see outside of barren land.
5. Unification Village
The final stop on the tour is Unification Village, a rare sight of civilisation within the DMZ. The village is made up of the local families that were living there prior to the war. As expected, there wasn’t too much to see aside from farmland.