Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Swami]

Can anyone give me some info on DMZ tours? I'm trying to book one with the USO travel agent but I don't know much about the site so I'm wondering if I am missing out on anything.

Here is the itinerary:

07:30 Departure from Camp Kim USO

we don't provide pick-up service, please refer to the following direction

09:00 20 Minute Briefing at Ballinger Hall in JSA and then tour to the JSA area

11:20 The Third infiltration, Dora observatory.

12:20 Lunch at a Korea Restaurant. (It is not included)

14:00 Dorasan Station.

15:30 Return to the Camp Kim USO.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[peacemaker]

It's a good tour. I recommend going.

[interestedinhanguk]

Go on the USO tour, nothing else.

[IanChops]

Don't wear shorts. Smart casual attire is best.

This is obvious, but don't turn up half drunk from the night before. I know someone who did that.

[Globutron]

They specifically say don't wear anything like a t-shirt with band names or trousers with bits of ripped material at the bottom etc, on the website.

[interestedinhanguk]

But people will still show up out of dress code and they'll still let them through.

[kahuna21]

The USO site is weird because all the info is there, but you can't book there. Booking is done through Koridoor (http://www.koridoor.co.kr/)

Just signed up for one - I've done other tours before, hopefully this is better.

[Radius]

why is there a dress code?

[interestedinhanguk]

My take on the dress code is that the UN command is trying to maintain an air of dignity and respect in the area. Also, could be to show off in front of the North Koreans, so they have no propaganda photos to take of dirty foreigners.... However, from the videos I've seen, the North allows their tourists in the area to act like monkeys.

[jvalmer]

[jomiro]

im sorry. i did the tour. not with the uso, but went to the same stations. and all i can say is, it was a waste of money and a waste of time.

if youve got nothing else to do, its fine to go up there. but in case you are short on time and trying to fit all the sights into your plan, you might wanna skip the dmz.

[Globutron]

I kinda of agree with this post.

The DMZ is surreal and great, simply to be there and get the passport stamp is enough to make it worth the price, in my opinion. But... They obviously have a lack of information they can provide and as a consequence they tended to repeat a lot of information (USO). You are told everything in the starting meeting, then you go to a place where you are told everything. Then you go somewhere and the tour people tell you everything. You go in a tunnel where the same information is provided and then you go and watch a movie, which tells you the same information again.
You also have a museum tour where the same information is provided right before the movie.

So go if you're living here, but not if you're on vacation here.

[interestedinhanguk]

[DeMayonnaise]

[interestedinhanguk]