DMZ & JAS Tour

The Korean peninsula is home to a single nation of people with the same language and ethnicity, divided in two. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a buffer zone, which was established on July 27, 1953, when the Armistice Agreement was signed during the Korean War. The DMZ vividly captures the scars and wounds of the Korean War as well as the wishes and hopes for the future.

South and North Koreas drew a truce line across the Korean Peninsula, from the mouth of the Imjingang River in the east, to the town of Goseong in the west. On either side of the truce line is a 2km-wide stretch of land where military activity is forbidden. The zone has been protected from human disturbance for about 6 decades and has become a haven for wildlife. The destinations in this ecological area have been regaining popularity among eco-driven tourists. The following information will introduce the major attractions along the DMZ and related package tours visiting the nearby regions.

Tour description

Imjingak Park

Bombed train

A Korean war relic

Imjingak is a park that was made in 1972 to give consolation to homesick of refugees who fled North Korea during the Korean War(1950~1953). It locates about 7km to the south from the Military Demarcation Line and 0.5km from Imjingang Station. It is allegedly about 2.5 million tourists who visit here annually.

Freedom Bridge is located at 2 kilometers north of Munsan, and it is the only path that connects between the south and north around Imjin river.

The history says Since about 13,000 war captives crossed this bridge crying Hurrah for freedom, which gave bridge its name, "the bridge of freedom".

The 3rd infiltration tunnel

It was not until 1975 that a North Korean defector named Kim Bu-seong claimed that the north had built a secret passageway across the demilitarized zone for the main purpose of invading the south.
The third tunnel was discovered in October of 1978. 1.95 meters high, 2.1 meters wide and 1,635 meters long, it penetrates 435 meters south of the military demarcation line and ends at the Truce Village of Panmunjeom.

Dorasan Station

Dorasan Station is a railroad station located on the Gyeongui Line, connected South and North Korea. It is located 56 km(34 miles) from Seoul Station and 205 km(127 miles) from Pyongyang in the north.

On June 15, 2000, South Korea and North Korea agreed to connect the Gyeongui Line which would link both countries. The railroad line was finally connected at the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on June 14, 2003.

In late 2007, freight trains with industrial supplies began traveling into North Korea on a daily basis. However, on December 1, 2008, the border was closed by the government of North Korea and the freight trains stopped. On February 20, 2002, President Kim Dae Jung and President George Bush drew worldwide attention when they met here as a symbol of peace and hope for the one-day reunification of the divided country.