DMZ

Yesterday I went on a tour of the Demilitarization Zone (DMZ) on the boarder of North and South Korea. (Sorry Grandma, I know I told you that I would stay away from “The Line,” but it was completely safe, and I am still alive.) It was a great experience that I am glad that I did, and I learned a lot from it. We had to meet at the USO office in Seoul by 7:00 in the morning, which meant I had to be up by 4:30 to go running, and travel into the city.

After the 45 kilometer ride to the border, our first stop on the tour was the Joint Security Area (JSA). We had to transfer to military busses with military guides. We were briefed about the history the JSA, and the rules that we would have to follow. It was raining that day, and umbrellas are not allowed in the JSA. I assume they have that rule so that both countries will be able to watch the other without having something blocking their view. I was glad that I had worn my raincoat (thanks Kim for such a great Christmas gift), something that the other people I had gone with had neglected to do. There are a few buildings that are half in North Korea, and half in South Korea. The one that we went in is visited by tour groups from both countries. While in that building, we got to stand in North Korea. The door that lead to the North Korean side was guarded by and South Korean guard, called a “rock,” who doesn’t move from his stance, and is extremely intimidating.

Next after the JSA, we went to the third tunnel. South Korea has discovered 4 tunnels that North Korea had tried to dig themselves a hidden route to Seoul. The third tunnel is the one that got the closest to Seoul. When it was discovered, North Korea covered the walls with a black paint, and claimed that it was just a coal mine. There isn’t even coal in the area, so that was completely ridiculous. The walls are still black in some places, which one of my coworkers learned the hard way after getting black crud all over his hands. We have to wear hardhats when we go in because it was low in some places. This was one of the times that it was kind of nice to be short and get to laugh at all my tall friends who had to walk the whole time hunched over.

We then visited an observation point with a ton of those pay binocular things. We could see the North Korean village pretty well with them. It was kind of funny, because you are not allowed to use your camera past a big yellow line, which is impossible to get pictures from when standing behind it. Everyone lined up holding their camera as high above their head as they could. There were two soldiers that were making sure that no one took pictures. Many people snuck pictures in anyways without getting caught, but I saw at least one camera confiscated and all the pictures deleted.

Our last stop was Dorasan Station. There is a commuter railway that goes a few stops into both North and South Korea that is ready to begin service the moment of reunification. It was really cool because we ended the tour with somthing that was a sign of friendship between the two countries rather than opposition. I didn't even know the railway existed before yesterday.

This is the tollbooth that people used to be able to pass through to get to North Korea. There is a factory just north of the border that South Koreans could work at up until about 2 weeks ago. Now only trucks with materials and finished products that are goint to or coming from this factory can pass through the booth.

It was a long day, and I was exhasted by the time I got home, but I am so glad that I went.

Yeah for Korea who won their first soccer game in the World Cup yesterday!

Happy Fathers Day Dad and all the other dads out there!