[One Day Walk] Following the Origin of Baengmagoji... DMZ Cheorwon 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 (participation fee 10,000 KRW) through Durudubi and others, visitors can explore the routes by vehicle and on foot.

From the Baengmagoji Observatory, Yeokgokcheon River crossing the DMZ can be seen.
[Photo by Joint Press Corps]

Today’s course is Cheorwon. Cheorwon is a beautiful region where the Cheorwon Plain, a lava plateau formed by volcanic rock eruptions, and the deeply carved Hantan River flow through. At the same time, it is a military operational area where heavily armed South and North Korea face each other. The Cheorwon Labor Party Headquarters built in Soviet architectural style, the Baengmagoji Battle Monument, and the remains excavation sites allow visitors to experience both our painful history and beautiful nature. Tours depart every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.

The Baengmagoji Battle Monument commemorates the Baengmagoji Battle. The battle refers to the fight in 1952 between the Republic of Korea’s 9th Division and the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army’s 38th Army’s three divisions to recapture an unnamed hill at an altitude of 395 meters. On the hill of Baengmagoji, there is a memorial monument honoring the spirits who died in the battle, a memorial hall exhibiting records and items from the battle as well as personal effects of General Kim Jong-o, and a battle monument commemorating the wish for reunification and victory. From the DMZ Peace Trail entrance behind the Baengmagoji Memorial Monument, a 1.5 km drive leads to the Baengmagoji Observatory. During the war, a U.S. war correspondent took photos by helicopter, and due to the extensive bombing and fighting, the mountain ridge turned completely white, resembling a lying white horse. That is how this place got its name, Baengma (White Horse).

Biryong Observatory
Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

The Peacock Ridge Observatory is the final section of the walking tour starting from the Baengmagoji Observatory. The viewing deck was newly constructed while creating the Peace Trail, not originally located here. Peacock Ridge was named because its shape resembles a peacock spreading its tail feathers when seen from the sky. From the observatory, visitors can see a panoramic view of Yeokgokcheon beyond the barbed wire fence, Peacock Ridge, the side of Baengmagoji, and Hwaseolmari Hill, offering the most beautiful scenery in the Cheorwon section.

Hwaseolmari Hill, at an altitude of 281 meters, was the site of fierce hill battles until just before the armistice agreement was signed. It is estimated that the remains of about 200 South Korean soldiers and about 300 United Nations soldiers, including U.S. and French troops, are buried there. Designated as a joint excavation site for remains between South and North Korea, joint excavation work was planned from April to October 2019. However, due to the deadlock in inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. relations, South Korea has been conducting the excavation alone to date.

Main stops: Baengmagoji Battle Monument - Baengmagoji Observatory - Peacock Ridge Observatory - Gate C - Cheorwon Emergency GP - Hwaseolmari Hill and Remains Excavation Observatory

Total length 12 km, walking distance 3.5 km