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Road Trip Along DMZ?

 
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jamesd



Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:48 pm    Post subject: Road Trip Along DMZ? Reply with quote

I'm considering taking a road trip along the DMZ with my family (wife and our baby). Does anyone have any experience doing this on their car? Can anyone point me to a good road map? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I rode my motorcycle through some sections of National 5. Because my cycle didn't have a number plate, the road block guy freaked out. I had to give my phone number and sure enough he kept on calling to check where I was. I was instructed to NOT stop at all, just keep going.
Along the Imjin river, there are number of look-outs where you can take a peek at the other side. For visiting the tunnels it is best to inquire before hand. Driving near DMZ at night is not adviceable.
On the Kangwondo side, take the Nat 46 to the Peace Dam, and then the President Rhee Syng Man's villa opposing Kim Il-Sung's and the to Gosung.
Drive is pleasant because there's hardly any other cars on the road. It was refreshing to find roads where grass have grown tall in the cracks.
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jamesd



Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

andrewchon wrote:
I rode my motorcycle through some sections of National 5. Because my cycle didn't have a number plate, the road block guy freaked out. I had to give my phone number and sure enough he kept on calling to check where I was. I was instructed to NOT stop at all, just keep going.
Along the Imjin river, there are number of look-outs where you can take a peek at the other side. For visiting the tunnels it is best to inquire before hand. Driving near DMZ at night is not adviceable.
On the Kangwondo side, take the Nat 46 to the Peace Dam, and then the President Rhee Syng Man's villa opposing Kim Il-Sung's and the to Gosung.
Drive is pleasant because there's hardly any other cars on the road. It was refreshing to find roads where grass have grown tall in the cracks.


I explained my road trip plans by my co-teacher. She says that I may have to call the Korean military (she doesn't know who or where) in advance to let me through the military check points and have our ARC card and passport.

Andrew, when you approached the military check points, why did they freak out and what things did they say specifically. Also, what ID's did you present to pass through the check points?
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DerJon



Joined: 30 Jan 2010
Location: Dongducheon-Si, South Korea

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I drove through a military checkpoint on National 5. It's not that big of a deal. My car had plates on it. They made me fill out a form, spoke very little English, took my cell number and looked at my DL. (I have a Korean one). I stopped twice in there. Once because there's a war memorial, and once because the overlook was beautiful. When we got out of the checkpoint, they were concerned that it took us such a long time, but in the end, didn't care. If you're uncomfortable around 20-something year old with bayonettes, this may not be for you, but otherwise, from West to East, it's about a 5 hour drive with a few stops along the way. Beautiful with mountains and rivers, etc.... I say go for it, and relax. It looks tough, but there's nothing to be afraid of and no way to make a wrong turn and end up in N.K.
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