DMZ Tour
Cheorwon DMZ
About the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)
In the DMZ, the actual location of the North-South partition, a soundless war began with the armistice agreement between North and South Korea on July 27, 1953. The divide is located between the Northern Limit Line and the Southern Limit Line. It is a buffer zone to prevent hostile activities between the North and the South and a recurrence of war in the future. Both countries are prohibited to station any army, allocated weapons, and establish military facilities in this area. The DMZ takes up about 0.5% of the Korean Peninsula and the South is under the control of the UN armistice commission. The DMZ of the Korean Peninsula is the only field of national division in the world, and especially Gangwon-do is the only region divided into the south and north like Berlin was in the past.
- Inquiry Phone : Iron-triangle zone observatory control office (+82-33-455-3129, +82-33-450-5558)
Saemtong Migratory Bird's Sanctuary
Saemtong is a 5,000㎡ natural pond that never freezes. The surrounding area in a 2㎢ radius is a haven for migratory birds from November through March. Of the 1,300 white-nape cranes around the world, some 800 of them can be spotted in Cheorwon during this period. A commemorative picture of the cranes in this area was presented to Queen Elizabeth.
Goseokjeong Pavilion
This two-story tower was established under King Jinpyeong of the Silla Kingdom. Goseokjeong Pavilion was built above a valley, surrounded by cliffs and clear, blue waters. The battlefield conservation office here is the starting point for DMZ tours.
The Second Underground Tunnel
Discovered on March 19, 1975, the Second Underground Tunnel is wide enough to pass 30,000 soldiers an hour and even large armored vehicles. The tunnel has been developed into a tourist site so that visitors can tour the tunnel.
Cheorui Samgakji (The Iron Triangle Zone)
This observatory has a capacity of 300 people. Through eight sets of high-quality binoculars visitors can view the DMZ, the Pyeonggang highlands and propaganda village (a village built only to brag that North Korea is enjoying high living standards), Kim Ilsung’s native home, and "Bloody Ridge" in North Korea.
Woljeong-ri Station
Woljeong-ri Station was a through-station before the division of the two Koreas, but now is the northernmost terminal station near the southern boundary of the DMZ. A large sign says the train wants to run, symbolizing the tragedy of national division.
Labor Party Building
Built in 1946 under fund-raising and labor forced by the North Korean government, this shelled-out carcass of a building is a Soviet-type structure built of concrete. For security reasons, only devoted communist partisans were allowed to work within the building.
Seungilgyo(Bridge)
From August 1948 to the early stage of 6.25 Korean War, residents of Cheorwon and GImhwa were collected to build the base and 2 posts and they completed the northern part of the bridge. The other parts were completed by the South Korean government on December 3, 1958. In this manner, the bridge was ironically finished by a joint effort between the south and the north. To celebrate the ironic construction, it was named ‘Seungilgyo’ after the former South Korean president Lee Seungman for “Seung” and the former north Korean president Kim Ilsung for “Il”.
