The DMZ

Recently, our Korean father drove us to Imjin Gak: the western gateway to the Demilitarized Zone. From there we took a tour bus to four different stops around and under the DMZ.

We are so thankful for this incredibly powerful experience! Luke and I feel that we can better understand the Korean people and what they've been through. Talking to our Korean dad really helped put things into perspective for us. The whole day was very interesting and insightful. Sometimes I forget that they're still at war over here...and that this is the only place in the world that has this situation!

When we first arrived, we took a wrong turn...and apparently "tried" to enter the DMZ. We should have known, while we were driving along large barbed wire fences and heavily guarded gates (with barricades strategically placed around the roads), that we had gone a bit too far! An armed man in uniform swiftly approached the car and spoke firmly to Wongyo in Korean. He must have asked him what we were doing and asked him to turn around, because we were quickly on our way, going out the very same way we came in. It must not be everyday that they get random civilians in an unmarked vehicle trying to drive right into the "no civilian" zone :)




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This looks more like it. Behind us stands the main building at Imjil Gak. Notice the telescopes on the roof.


This is a war memorial for the U.S. military men who gave their lives fighting in the Korean war.


If you look closely, you will notice that this train has hundreds of bullet holes all over it. It was in use during the war, and brutally damaged at that time.


Quick lunch before the tour...

On our first stop we watched a video about the history of the war, and the signing of the Armistice Agreements in 1953. The video also explained the findings of 4 tunnels, that stretch from North to South Korea (under the DMZ), that were discovered between the late 1970's to 1990's. Though the tunnels were built after the agreement was signed, their purpose was to enable an unexpected invasion of Seoul. They estimated that 30,000 North Korean troops could make it through the tunnels in one hour! Thank goodness the South discovered the tunnels and blocked them up before this ever took place! While being 25 stories under the DMZ, Luke and I were able to walk along the inside of the tunnel. We were not allowed to bring any belongings with us (including cameras) and had to wear hard hats. This was quite necessary seeing as Luke was bent in half, hitting his head, all along the way!

Our second stop was at a military check point with a look out. There were telescopes to see into the North Korean side of the DMZ. Of course, this again was a "no camera" zone. Unfortunately it was quite foggy and we couldn't see much, but there was a 3D map that helped us know in what direction to look through the viewer. Theoretically, on clear days you can see a North Korean village, with the farmers working in their fields near their traditional styled homes. There's also a tall standing statue of Kim Il-Sung.

On our third stop, we were fortunate to spend time at the northern most railway station in South Korea. There are indeed trains that run between North and South Korea, though they only carry freight. This station is called Dorasan, and was built in high hopes of someday being a regular stop between the free and open nations of North and South Korea! It's a very strange feeling to sit in an empty train station that was built on a dream that still seems to be along way out in coming into any kind of fulfillment.












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The last stop was at a souvenir shop in a little village that rests just outside the DMZ (in the Civilian Control Zone). Many of the items in the shop were things made in North Korea/ DMZ. There is a lot of agriculture in and around the DMZ. The farmers have very specific regulations and have to spend a certain amount of months each year inside "their" zone.