The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea is one of the most notorious borders in the world. With tensions between the two countries continuously very high, this border can be dangerous. Despite this, joining a tour and visiting the DMZ is something we could not miss during our time in Korea. It is so important to us that we learn both the history and the ongoing issues that North Korea and South Korea face, both individually as countries and together as countries who share a boarder, a history, and a people.
You cannot visit the DMZ without joining a tour who escorts you through the military checkpoint and walks through the DMZ area with you. Despite the environment being lush and beautiful, it's hard to forget you are at a contentious border because of all the barbed wire, military presence, and security cameras at every turn. Learning about the history of North and South Korea is the goal of the tour groups, and we learned so much from out tour guide.
The Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 until Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945. After Japan's surrender, the peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel into two zones of occupation: the Soviet-controlled North and the American-controlled South. This division led to the establishment of two separate governments, each claiming to be the legitimate authority over the entire peninsula. In 1950, North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea, leading to the Korean War. The war ended in 1953 with a ceasefire.
Our tour's main message was one of peace. South Korea is eager to see peace restored between the two nations. Part of this is because many South Koreans have loved ones in North Korea who are unable to leave, and South Koreans are not able to go in.
The first stop on our tour was to Imjingak Park. This is a Park in South Korea that has been created as a place of memorial. It serves as a place of respect for those who died during the Korean war, but also as a place that people can go to grieve and mourn their family and friends who are on the other side of the border, and therefore completely out of reach.
Next, we went to the Third Infiltration Tunnel to get as close as possible to North Korea without actually entering the country. These tunnels were actually dug from North Korea to South Korea, but were found by South Korea before the tunnels reached beyond the DMZ. Being underground and getting this close to North Korea was an experience we never thought we'd have!
The last stop of the day was the Dora Observatory. From here, we can actually see North Korea with our bare eyes. We found it really hard to grasp just how different life is for people on the other side of the border.
Our whole trip to the DMZ taught us so much more about North and South Korea, and the heartbreak that continues to happen here. It was a bit of a sad experience, but travel isn't always happy and joyful. We felt like our visit to Korea would not be complete without seeing the DMZ to understand this country's past and present, and we are so glad we went.
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== Chapters ==
0:00 DMZ tours are only possible with a tour
0:47 Imjingak Park for grieving and carnival rides?
3:41 We can go inside the infiltration tunnels!
6:06 Don't do this on a rainy day
7:34 Sights of North Korea
24 июл 2024
