DMZ Tour From Seoul [Sponsored by Trazy.com & K Story Tour]

WHAT IS THE DMZ?

"The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a border barrier that divides the peninsula roughly in half. It was established to serve as a buffer zone between the countries of North Korea and South Korea under the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, an agreement between North Korea, China, and the United Nations Command." (SOURCE)

Odusan Observatory

Odusan Observatory is an observatory where you can see North Korea directly through a telescope! 

The difference from my last visit in 2016 is that they now have DIGITAL telescopes that you can use for free. You can pinch and zoom the screens to see the villages and houses where North Koreans actually live. If you are in luck, you can even see North Koreans passing by on a bicycle. 

Displayed on the first and second floors of the Odusan Observatory are letters, photos, stories, and artworks where you can see and feel how the Korean people long for their families stuck in the North or died due to the great divide. This is to commemorate loved ones they never got to see again.

A digital lantern where you can write messages to friends and families in North Korea. A piano with barbed wire as strings, an artistic take on the hardships of this war.

Imjingak Dokgae Bridge/Bunker

In this area of the DMZ, I was able to see an actual train, and even the train tracks that was supposed to connect the North and South but was destroyed during the war. The place is very informative, you will really learn a lot about this long-time conflict.

During my first DMZ visit in 2016, our group went down and passed through the Third Infiltration Tunnel, but this time we went through a bunker where you can see mementos and videos, and even step on a broken land mine. 😅

Imjingak Observatory DMZ Gondola

Last stop for the DMZ tour is the new DMZ Gondola! Aside from seeing the DMZ vicinity from bird's eye-view, we were also treated with a lovely view of Korea during the autumn season.

At the end of the ride, you can go around the DMZ Park, or have lunch or coffee in some of the restaurants and cafes. I also met a new content creator friend through this cable car, Nani from Columbia (but living in Seoul already). We had a lot to talk about on Korean cafes, our love for Korean culture, and our own countries, over our pasta and iced coffee!