It’s one of the most heavily fortified and militarized borders in the world. It has more than 1 million mines spread throughout. It separates one of the world’s most isolated countries with one of the world’s most modern.
And if you read our article with 13 Places to Visit in South Korea Outside Seoul, you’ll know that it’s one place we recommend visiting.
Today, we’re talking about the DMZ (the demilitarized zone) – the “border” between North Korea and South Korea.
To be honest, in my opinion, a visit to the DMZ is MUST if you’re visiting South Korea. Besides being easy to visit – you just take a bus from Seoul, pass the day there, then return – it’s essential to understand the mindset of a country that’s been divided in two since the 1950s.
But before I tell you how to visit the DMZ…
Table of Contents
- 1 What is the DMZ?
- 2 What is the JSA (Joint Security Area/Panmunjom)?
- 3 How a DMZ tour works
- 4 What is the cheapest tour company in Seoul to visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) with?
- 5 What does a full day DMZ/JSA/3rd Tunnel itinerary look like?
- 6 How to book a DMZ tour
- 7 Is visiting the DMZ safe?
- 8 Things to know before your DMZ tour
- 9 BONUS: Two Unusual Ways You Can Visit the DMZ
- 10 Is it possible to visit the DMZ from the North Korean side?
What is the DMZ?
The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the strip of land between North and South Korea. It’s 250 kilometers (155 miles) long and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. Now, it’s become the border between the two countries and divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half.
It was established by the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement to serve as a “buffer zone” between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK/South Korea).
The agreement was signed by North Korea, China, and the United Nations in 1953.
Within the DMZ, there is a meeting point for the two countries in the small JSA (Joint Security Area). It’s located in the west part of the DMZ.
What is the JSA (Joint Security Area/Panmunjom)?
Panmunjom is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the north of Seoul. It’s where the Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27th, 1953.
Even today, Panmunjom is where dialogues between North Korean and South Korean representatives happen.
Currently, Panmunjom is also called the JSA (Joint Security Area). It’s a rectangular 400m x 800m area on the Military Demarcation Line inside the UNCMAC (United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission).
As I said above, it’s used for conversations between the United Nations Command (UNC) and its communist counterparts (North Korea and China).
Over the years, there have been incidents along the DMZ with military and civilian victims on both sides.
Although the zone is demilitarized, the area just outside the DMZ is one of the most militarized border in the world.
Off the coast, there’s the Northern Limit Line (NLL) – the disputed maritime demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea in the Yellow Sea. It’s still disputed because it wasn’t officially established in the 1953 armistice.
The coastline and the islands on both sides of the NLL are also heavily militarized.
There is an interesting Korean movie called “Northern Limit Line.” It’s based on the true events of an armed naval incident between the two Koreas. It took place during the 2002 Football World Cup in Japan and Korea.
Here’s the trailer:
But going back to the DMZ, the reason this article is here is because you can visit it! I’ll explain how to visit the DMZ and with whom down below.
How a DMZ tour works
There are 3 types of tours to the DMZ:
- Morning only
- Afternoon only
- The entire day – includes: DMZ, JSA and the 3rd infiltration tunnel
In this article, we’ll focus just on the full day DMZ excursions leaving from Seoul. This is because we believe that this is the most complete tour and will give you the best idea of what the DMZ is without missing any of the highlights.
What is the cheapest tour company in Seoul to visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) with?
We went with Koridoor and it’s definitely the cheapest and most complete option.
Here’s some more info:
Koridoor
www.koridoor.co.kr
Price for a full day DMZ tour: 96,000 Korean Won (about $92.00 USD)
This is the price for the full day tour that’ll take you to the DMZ, JSA, and the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel. I’ve listed the itineraries and schedules down below.
Just for comparison, the prices for the same DMZ/JSA & 3rd Tunnel tour with other companies are:
DMZ Tours: 135,000 KRW (about $120 USD)
13 Places to Visit in South Korea Outside Seoul
Seoul City Tour Bookings: 125,000 KRW (about $110 USD)
13 Places to Visit in South Korea Outside Seoul
CosmoJin Tour: 137,000 KRW (about $121 USD)
13 Places to Visit in South Korea Outside Seoul
Truthfully, there’s only one situation when it makes sense to do one of the more expensive tours above: when the Koridoor tours are all full!
This happens often during the summer or high season.
In this case, I’d check the other options. Even if they are more expensive, that’s the only way….
In other words, book your tour to the DMZ/JSA as soon as possible because they fill up fast!!
What does a full day DMZ/JSA/3rd Tunnel itinerary look like?
There are 7 possible full day itineraries to the DMZ. They are all the same – just in a different order. Some begin in Camp Bonifas to see the JSA – which to be honest is the highlight of the tour – and then go to other parts of the DMZ and the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel.
Others are the exact opposite….3rd tunnel, other parts of the DMZ, and then the JSA.
I put all 7 itineraries here (in order by start time, from earliest to latest) and you choose which you think is best ?
Attention! No company offers DMZ tours on Sundays and Mondays. This is because the JSA is closed for administrative reasons on those days.
Itinerary #1:
0730: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
0900: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1120: DMZ theater, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
1300: Lunch at Korean restaurant
1340: Dora Observatory and Dorasan Train Station – free entrance (optional: admission
to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD)
1400: Depart for Camp Kim
1530: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
Itinerary #2:
0800: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
0945: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1200: DMZ theater, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
1330: Lunch at Korean restaurant
1410: Dora Observatory and Dorasan Train Station – free entrance
(optional: admission to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD)
1500: Depart for Camp Kim
1630: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
Itinerary #3:
0900: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
1000: Arrive at and visit 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
Dora Observatory and Dorasan Train Station – free entrance
(optional: admission to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD)
1300: Lunch at Korean restaurant
1345: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1600: Depart from Camp Bonifas
1730: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
Itinerary #4:
0930: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
1030: Arrive at and visit 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
Dora Observatory and Dorasan Train Station – free entrance
(optional: admission to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD)
1210: Lunch at Korean restaurant
1345: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1610: Depart from Camp Bonifas
1730: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
Itinerary #5:
1030: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
1135: DMZ theater, the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
1250: Dora observatory
1320: Lunch at Korean restaurant
1425: Dorasan Train Station – free entrance
(optional: admission to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD)
1500: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1720: Depart from Camp Bonifas
1830: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
Itinerary #6:
1130: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
1240: Dorasan Train Station – free entrance
(optional: admission to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD)
1310: Dora Observatory
1350: Lunch at Korean restaurant
1440: DMZ theater, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
1600: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1750: Depart from Camp Bonifas
1900: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
Itinerary #7:
1230: Depart from Camp Kim (Seoul)
1340: Dorasan Train Station – free entrance
(optional: admission to the train platform – 1,000 KRW or about $1.00 USD), DMZ theater, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora observatory
1600: Arrive at Camp BONIFAS
20 minute briefing from American soldiers at the JSA visitor center
Visit JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of No Return, point of ax murder)
1740: Dinner at Korean restaurant
1840: Depart from Camp Bonifas
1940: Arrive at Camp Kim (Seoul)
*Check on Koridoor’s website to see the most updated itinerary info
**A meal isn’t included. The group will visit a Korean restaurant during the DMZ tour. You need to bring 10,000 KRW to eat in the restaurant or you can bring your own lunch.
Lunch is often included with the other tour companies mentioned above. It’s up to you to find which option is best.
How to book a DMZ tour
Just go to the Koridoor website (or the website of any other company) and you should be able to reserve your spot online.
Alternatively, you can use one of the websites that lets you compare several different DMZ tours and prices. The two I recommend are GetYourGuide and Viator.
Here are some examples of other DMZ tours from these two websites:
VIATOR: (just search DMZ)
Is visiting the DMZ safe?
Absolutely. As you can see by all the tour company options above, the DMZ has literally been turned into a tourist attraction. Part of the tours are even organized and guided by American soldiers!
If there is any sort of threat, they shut down the DMZ to tourists. Or they may take items off the itinerary (for example, we weren’t able to visit the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel). But otherwise, visiting is perfectly safe.
Things to know before your DMZ tour
You will be briefed on all these things before your tour, but make sure you still know about them beforehand:
- Bring your passport (a normal ID isn’t enough!).
- You must reserve your tour and send your passport number at least 72 hours in advance.
- Some nationalities aren’t allowed to visit the DMZ (check with Koridoor before)
- When you are in the JSA’s conference room, don’t touch any of the equipment like microphones or flags on the communist side.
- Don’t speak with, gesture, or even seem to respond to people from the other side (North Korea).
- Sometimes, you will be prevented from entering the common security area (JSA) because of military or other official events.
- Extremely casual clothing like ripped jeans, sleeveless shirts, mini skirts, shorts, military clothing, exercises clothes, and sandals are not allowed on the tour.
- Hair that’s too messy also isn’t allowed.
- Cameras with zoom lenses greater than 90 mm aren’t allowed.
- No one under the age of 10 can go on a DMZ tour. This includes babies.
- The route and the schedule can be changed without notice by the UNC.
- During the tour, if any part of the itinerary is cancelled because of an unexpected issue, you won’t get a refund.
- If there is a last-minute military training or official event, the entire tour can be cancelled the day of the tour.
BONUS: Two Unusual Ways You Can Visit the DMZ
Can’t get enough of the DMZ? Then lucky for you, there are a few other spots you can visit!
These are the two we visited:
1) Goseong Unification Observatory
Located on the Eastern limits of the Korean peninsula, this observatory gives you a view of the untouched coastline of the DMZ.
It’s a surprisingly beautiful view….and seeing all the barbed wire along the beaches on the way there is a pretty unique experience.
PS: This observatory is only 50 km north of Sokcho, one of the destinations we recommend in our article about 13 Places to Visit in South Korea besides Seoul.
That’s North Korea behind us….and look at the bird!!
2) Cheorwon DMZ International Peace Marathon
Want to get really up close and personal with the DMZ?
Then run through it during the Cheorwon DMZ International Peace Marathon!
The race gives you a real inside look at the DMZ and takes you through places that are usually closed to civilians. And no need to run a full marathon! There’s also a 10k and half marathon option
If you want to sign up, here’s the website (unfortunately, it’s only in Korean…but there is an email that says “only foreigner” about halfway down the page): https://www.dmzrun.kr/
Don’t feel like running? Then you can just check out the Cheorwon Peace Observatory to get a glimpse into North Korea.
Is it possible to visit the DMZ from the North Korean side?
Yes, it’s possible!
We did so during our trip to North Korea. Besides being very relaxed, it was also quite surreal to visit the JSA from both sides of the border.
We talk about how you can visit North Korea yourself in our article How to Visit North Korea on a Budget.
And that’s it. If you have any questions about visiting the DMZ, just use the comments area below because we always respond!
The same JSA, but this time with the North Korean soldiers
See below some articles that may be of interest to you:
How to Visit North Korea on a Budget
13 Places to Visit in South Korea Outside Seoul
How We Planned Our Super Budget 3 Month Trip Around Asia and Micronesia
22 Interesting Things I’ve Learned Living in South Korea