Dmz
A narrow strip of land that stretches across the Korean peninsula, the Demilitarized Zone is a tangible, tragic reminder of the civil war that cleaved the land in two. While hostilities have ceased, no formal peace treaty was ever signed between the two nations, and the overall situation remains tense. If and when North and South are ever reunified, the DMZ is slated to become an ecological park. Until that day, however, it remains the hair-trigger site of a potential conflict, but nonetheless an exciting place to visit.
In the West, the DMZ is perhaps best known for the Joint Security Area, the only place where North Korean soldiers stand face-to-face with their South Korean and American counterparts - and which has seen its fair share of bloodshed and antagonism throughout the decades. In addition, the DMZ is famous for the Third Tunnel of Aggression, one of a series of underground invasion routes dug by the North Korean military.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Dorasan Station
Stop at Dorasan Station, a thoroughly modern train station that is physically linked to North Korea. If and when Korea is reunified, Dorasan will purportedly be the transit point for trains between Seoul and Pyongyang. Soldiers positioned here are friendly and willing to take photographs with you, so don't be shy.
Freedom Bridge
While the rift between North and South Korea has been oft-trivialized and rendered abstract by 24-hour news outlets, Freedom Bridge serves as a poignant reminder of the human dimension behind the Korean Civil War. The small, wooden footbridge is littered with pictures, ribbons, and letters from family members and friends in the south, who have been separated from their loved ones in the north. Near the bridge lies a ruined, derelict train, destroyed during the Korean War, and an observatory where curious tourists can peek into the silent reaches of North Korea.
Joint Security Area
Visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom, the only place where North and South Korean forces stand face to face. The JSA is the site of the famous "three blue sheds" that straddle the border with North Korea, so you can actually step over the line into the DPRK. Normal visits to the DMZ from South Korea do not include the Joint Security Area, but with enough lead time, Remote Lands can arrange for special access. In contrast, all visits to the DMZ for travelers in North Korea do include the Joint Security Area.
Nature in the DMZ
Take in the unintentional beauty of the DMZ: for all the political and emotional strife it represents, the DMZ has ironically become an “involuntary park,” or a stretch of land that has returned to its natural state in the absence of human intervention. Several endangered animal and plant species now thrive among the heavily fortified fences, including the extremely rare red-crowned crane (a frequent subject in Asian art), the white-naped crane, as well as the Siberian tiger, Amur leopard and Asiatic black bear.
Tunnels of the DMZ
Take a mini-train deep down into the Third Tunnel of Aggression, a subterranean passageway which snakes beneath the DMZ. Originally intended as an infiltration route, both North and South deny responsibility for the construction of the tunnel. As you walk through these areas that are a byproduct of the Korean War, feel free to speak with your guide about his/her thoughts on the rift between the two nations.
South Korea Regions
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Why Remote Lands?
Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
Twitchers at the DMZ: Birdwatching near the World’s Most Dangerous Border
- Author
- John McMahon
The lack of human intervention in the DMZ means that wildlife has had a chance to bounce back. For the birdwatcher, this makes for some decent sightings at the 38th parallel.
Parallel Lines, Diverging Lives: Revisiting Korea’s DMZ
- Author
- Jay Tindall
With tensions between North & South Korea at the highest point they’ve been in years, there couldn’t be a more dramatic time to visit the Demilitarized Zone.
Seoul Searching: Highlights of South Korea’s Capital
- Author
- Jay Tindall
At first, Seoul can seem a bit cold and uninviting; however once you get the lie of the land and work out where to go, it quickly becomes clear how much this city really has to offer
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