Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SPINOZA]

When one visits the DMZ, one always goes to the same place.

But the 38th parallel goes across the width of the country (duh).

What's the DMZ like everywhere else? Anyone live near the DMZ? Please share DMZ experience/knowledge that differs from the stuff you get on the USO tour, which is a microscopic slice of the 38th.

[makemischief]

adventurekorea.com has a pretty cool tour where you stay in a village called Cherwon (spelling?) in the civilian control zone right up next to the DMZ- it's very hilly and pastoral and quite peaceful and not touristy (at least when I was there). there's a pretty nice write up of it at:
http://www.adventurekorea.com/board/board.asp?id=tripreport&category=0&pageno=2&Sn=False&Ss=True&Sc=False&keyword=&rowno=22

[huffdaddy]

[Neil]

Just north of Sokcho in Gangwondo there's a DMZ observatory, it's about as far north as you can get on the east coast.

Good scenery and a small museum...I'd recommend it, when you're finished Sokcho is a pretty nice city for a weekend.

[SPINOZA]

BUMP!

[stumptown]

[bluelake]

I've visited at three different points; they each have their interests.

The first was at the northern tip of Kanghwa Island. It is an area where only Korean military and local farmers are allowed; I got in because I was doing joint research with profs from the Korea Military Academy. I looked over into the fake village across the water. That was when both sides stilled blared propaganda back and forth to each other. I looked across at some mountains through a ROK Marine's binoculars; when I commented, "I don't see anyone," he replied, "No, but they see you." Strangely, a couple days later was when the North and South had their first major naval clash at the NLL nearby where I was... Oops, did I do that? hehehe

The second was at Mt. Dora, nearby one of the infiltration tunnels. That time, I was there with my archery club and profs from the KMA. Interesting place, especially the train station. It's all ready for trains to go between the North and South; at the Pyongyang turnstiles, you half-expect people to be arriving from the North and others heading there.

The third was at the northernmost point on the East Coast. It's well-above the 38th. I was there with profs from my university. We had to don insulated camo jackets (it was in August--oof!). You could look across into the North and even watch NK outposts on CCTV (with zoom). The road that goes between the two sides is the one buses use to take tourists to Mt. Keumgang.

[RACETRAITOR]

I've had a few (Korean and non-Korean) friends stationed up at the DMZ. Some of my Korean friends had to patrol the DMZ around Gangwondo, and one of my friends is up at the east shore where North and South Korea meet, watching for boats to shoot out of the water.

They say sometimes you can talk to North Korean soldiers through the fence. I suggested to my friend he slip his band's demo tape to them.

[SPINOZA]

Gonna go for a drive up there at some point.

A good day out!

[huffdaddy]

Check out http://www.aegibong.co.kr/index.php.

The South Korean side


The North Korean side


More pics on my blog.

[pest2]

Actually, the DMZ runs a bit North of the 38th parallel. From my home, I can hop on my bike and ride about 1/2 hour South, turn, and go up this canyon and pass this marker that says "here is the 38th parallel." But its about 50km to North Korea from here and in the opposite direction...

[just because]

[ajgeddes]

[pest2]

[SPINOZA]