KR · Gyeonggi Province · 38.32°N 127.20°E

dmz

Look into North Korea from an observatory and walk down an infiltration tunnel.

Best time
Any time of year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, and winters near the border are bitterly cold. Tours can be cancelled at short notice for security reasons.
How long
Half a day to a full day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Seoul (about 6.5 hours). Imjingak park is open to anyone, but the tunnel and observatory sit inside a restricted zone and are visited on organised tours, most of which leave from Seoul. The drive up to the Paju area takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.
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KR · Gyeonggi Provincedmz38.32°N 127.20°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Look into North Korea from an observatory and walk down an infiltration tunnel.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingDMZKR, Gyeonggi Province
KLdmz
≈ 4,691 km from KL, as the crow flies
A view from South Korea towards North Korea in the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. North and South Korean military personnel, as well as a single US soldier, are shown.

Photo: Driedprawns at en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The guarded strip of land that has divided North and South Korea since the 1953 armistice, about 4 km wide and running right across the peninsula. A visit is a sobering trip from Seoul: you look across into the North, walk down a tunnel dug by North Korea, and see how present the conflict still is.

Things to do

  1. ImjingakA park at the edge of the zone, with the Freedom Bridge, memorials and ribbons left by divided families.Map ↗
  2. Third Infiltration TunnelA tunnel dug by North Korea and found in 1978. You walk down a steep slope to reach it.Map ↗
  3. Dora ObservatoryLook across the zone into North Korea. On a clear day you can see villages and hills on the other side.Map ↗
  4. Dorasan StationThe last station before the border, built for a railway meant to link the two Koreas.Map ↗
  5. Joint Security AreaWhere the two sides meet face to face at Panmunjom. JSA tours run separately and have been suspended at times, so check.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring your passport. It's checked at military checkpoints and tours won't take you without it.
  • Follow your guide's photo rules exactly. Photos are banned in some spots, including inside the tunnel.
  • The tunnel walk is steep and the ceiling is low (hard hats are provided), so it's tough going with bad knees or a bad back.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.