CHEORWON DMZ TOUR

• DAY TOUR
• DMZ

In SOUTH KOREA, there are few DMZ tour places; each place has secret tunnel (dug by NORTH KOREA) and observatory built by SOUTH KOREA (for military and sightseeing purpose).

The most popular DMZ tour place is at PAJU, which has 3rd TUNNEL and DORA OBSERVATORY. This is easily accessible from SEOUL in 1 hour because the distance is 64KM (or, 40 miles) from SEOUL. The disadvantage of this place is too crowded and touristic. Not easy to keep your immersion during the tour because of many group tourists from neighboring country.

CHEORWON is located farther than PAJU and many people don’t know CHEORWON has the same positioning with secret tunnel and observatory.

At CHEORWON, you will see and feel the real military tension between South and North Korea. For example, you might see the tanks moving along the road next to you. While your car is moving, you might hear the sound of big high-angle gun.

During the Korean War, CHEORWON changed the hands several times between the UN force and NORTH KOREA. By 1951, the front line had stabilized, cutting across CHEORWON County, and the area became part of the Iron Triangle battlefield.

Following the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, the Korean Demilitarized Zone cut CHEORWON County into two, creating CHEORWON belong to SOUTH KOREA and another CHEORWON belong to NORTH KOREA.

A number of KOREAN WAR sites in CHEORWON County are now tourist destinations including the Second Incursion Tunnel, CHEORWON PEACE OBSERVATORY, the former WOLJEONGRI STATION (i.e., ruin at the moment) and the former WORKERS’ PARTY OFFICE (i.e., ruin at the moment).

Please note that this tour is available only on MONDAY.

Admission fee

▪ The SECOND TUNNEL is discovered at 800m (0.5 mile) south of Military Demarcation Line under Korean Armistice Agreement in March 1975. This incomplete tunnel is 3.5 km (2.2 mile) long, of 2 m (6 ft 5 in) maximum high and 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) wide. It runs through bedrock at a depth of 50 (164 ft) – 160m (525 ft) below ground. It was apparently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul from North Korea, and could accommodate 30,000 men per hour along with light weaponry. Initially, North Korea denied building the tunnel. North Korea then declared it part of a coal mine, the tunnel having been blackened by construction explosions. Signs in the tunnel claim that there is no geological likelihood of coal being in the area. The walls of the tunnel where tourists are taken are observably granite, a stone of igneous origin, whereas coal would be found in stone of sedimentary origin. A total of four tunnels have been discovered so far, but it is believed that there might be up to twenty more.

▪ PEACE OBSERVATORY looks across the Demilitarized Zone. It is the part of South Korea closest to the North. Visitors can catch a rare glimpse of the reclusive North Korean state through binoculars.

▪ WOLJEONGRI STATION was a small train yard where rail stock was stored or shunted before leaving for Wonsan, now in North Korea. At the site are remains of a train used by the North Korean army which was bombed by UN forces. “The windows of the train car are twisted toward the sky and the frame and the body of the train are crooked and rusty.”

▪ WORKERS’ PARTY OFFICE was located in the territory of North Korea by the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. Therefore, this building was bombed mostly during the Korean War and it is almost destroyed.