[One Day Walk] The Current State of Peace Tourism... DMZ Paju Course

From April 21, the ‘DMZ Peace Trail Theme Routes’ will be fully opened. The ‘DMZ Peace Trail Theme Routes’ consist of 11 differentiated theme courses across 10 border local governments?Ganghwa, Gimpo, Goyang, Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje, and Goseong?that border the Demilitarized Zone. By applying in advance through Durudubi, etc. (participation fee 10,000 KRW), visitors can explore the routes by vehicle and on foot.

Today’s focus is the Paju course. From a symbol of division to a landmark of peace, it is the DMZ Peace Trail toward unification. Paju is the closest point of military confrontation between North and South Korea, but it also serves as a gateway for peace and inter-Korean exchanges, including Panmunjom. Tours depart every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The starting point, Imjingak Tourist Site, is located at the northernmost accessible area for the general public. It lies south of the Civilian Control Line (CCL), meaning it is a general area where anyone can freely enter without restrictions.

The area across the Imjin River is north of the CCL, known as the Civilian Restricted Area (CRA), and requires a military-issued pass for entry. Here, visitors can see war memorials such as the Imjingang District Monument and the U.S. Military Participation Monument, a steam locomotive from the Gyeongui Line Jangdan Station that ran all the way to Sinuiju at the northern tip of the Korean Peninsula before division, and Mangbaedan, a memorial altar created for displaced persons with hometowns in the North to pay respects during Lunar New Year and Chuseok annually. Behind Mangbaedan is the ‘Bridge of Freedom,’ where 12,773 Korean War prisoners of war returned to freedom following the armistice. There are also the Unification Pond shaped like the Korean Peninsula, the Bell of Peace, the U.S. Military Participation Monument, Peace Nuri Park, and the Korean War Abductees Memorial Hall.

Tongil Bridge [Asia Economy DB]

The 9.1 km walking trail extends from the Imjingak gate through the Unification Bridge, Chopyeongdo Island, Imjin Ferry, and ends at Yulgok Wetland Park. Among these, the Peace Trail tour walks only 1.4 km from the Imjingak starting point to the Unification Bridge. The ecological trail begins in front of the bunker exhibition hall next to the Bridge of Freedom at Imjingak. After passing through the gate with barbed wire fences, visitors walk along the embankment and riverside paths. Along the fences, artworks by artists wishing for unification are installed. Visitors can fully enjoy the scent of canola flowers in spring and cosmos flowers in autumn.

The Unification Bridge, spanning the Imjin River, marks the beginning of the Civilian Control Line area on the western front. It connects Munsan-eup and Gunnae-myeon in Paju City, is part of National Route 1 along its entire length, and its road name address is Tongil-ro (Unification Road). The Dora Observatory was newly opened on October 22, 2018. Located on the summit of Dorasan Mountain, it has one underground floor and three above-ground floors, covering a total area of 2,143 square meters. Although Dorasan is a low mountain at only 167 meters high, it offers excellent views due to the surrounding hills and plains. Visitors can see the North Korean village of Gijeong-dong with the world’s fourth tallest flagpole flying the North Korean flag, the city of Kaesong and the Kaesong Industrial Complex below Songaksan Mountain, all seemingly within reach. The gate (Tongmun) refers to the entrance of a Guard Post (GP). Passing through this gate leads into the Demilitarized Zone. The gate is just wide enough for a single truck to pass and is usually secured with multiple layers of padlocks.

For the safe use of the themed route by visitors, the operation will exclude a part of the DMZ section (Tongmun-Cheolgeo GP). [Source=Korea Tourism Organization]

Main stops: Imjingak - DMZ Ecological Trail - Unification Bridge - Dora Observatory - Gate

Total length: 21.4 km / Walking distance: 1.4 km