Civilian tours to southern side of Joint Security Area resume
- 5 years ago
판문점 투어 재개... 도보다리, 기념식수 등 투어확장
Last October, tours to the Joint Security Area were halted for a while because of joint projects between the two Koreas.
But now they're back on, and tourists say now the vibe is different.
Our Kim Ji-yeon went to check it out.
A tourist destination that had attracted millions of people a year from all over the world... has reopened to the public after a seven-month hiatus... this time with renewed significance.
The once heavily guarded inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom which is located on the southern side of the Joint Security Area or JSA... is now associated with peace, prosperity and the disarmament of the two Koreas.
"Tours had been stopped because of work to remove landmines and the withdrawal of military posts in the DMZ. The operations were part of the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement signed last September aimed at disarming the JSA."
Seoul's defense ministry also says it's working with North Korea and the UN Command to allow visitors access to the northern side of the JSA.
Civilian access to previously off-limit areas,... that played symbolic roles in the first inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Kim Jong-un leader held last April... are now included on the tours.
This includes the blue foot bridge the two leaders strolled over... as well as the memorial tree they planted near the Military Demarcation Line.
"What you will feel here in Panmunjom is a different vibe. We've taken away the landmines that we've assured that the mines are taken out and we've taken out weapons out of the towers and now our guards no longer carry weapons."
"I really wish I had the chance to visit the northern side of the JSA... currently blocked by a line of cement. I wanted to cross over to step on its soil and meet the North Korean people."
"My favorite part of the tour was the foot bridge. I still remember during this time last year the leaders of the two Koreas discussing peace in the region at this very place."
Initially,... there will be a daily limit of four tour groups with a maximum 82 people in each group... but that will be expanded to eight groups a day from June.
South Korean nationals can apply for the tour online through the National Intelligence Service website,... while foreigners can apply through tour agencies listed on the websites of the NIS or the Unification Ministry's Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News, Panmunjeom.
Last October, tours to the Joint Security Area were halted for a while because of joint projects between the two Koreas.
But now they're back on, and tourists say now the vibe is different.
Our Kim Ji-yeon went to check it out.
A tourist destination that had attracted millions of people a year from all over the world... has reopened to the public after a seven-month hiatus... this time with renewed significance.
The once heavily guarded inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom which is located on the southern side of the Joint Security Area or JSA... is now associated with peace, prosperity and the disarmament of the two Koreas.
"Tours had been stopped because of work to remove landmines and the withdrawal of military posts in the DMZ. The operations were part of the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement signed last September aimed at disarming the JSA."
Seoul's defense ministry also says it's working with North Korea and the UN Command to allow visitors access to the northern side of the JSA.
Civilian access to previously off-limit areas,... that played symbolic roles in the first inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Kim Jong-un leader held last April... are now included on the tours.
This includes the blue foot bridge the two leaders strolled over... as well as the memorial tree they planted near the Military Demarcation Line.
"What you will feel here in Panmunjom is a different vibe. We've taken away the landmines that we've assured that the mines are taken out and we've taken out weapons out of the towers and now our guards no longer carry weapons."
"I really wish I had the chance to visit the northern side of the JSA... currently blocked by a line of cement. I wanted to cross over to step on its soil and meet the North Korean people."
"My favorite part of the tour was the foot bridge. I still remember during this time last year the leaders of the two Koreas discussing peace in the region at this very place."
Initially,... there will be a daily limit of four tour groups with a maximum 82 people in each group... but that will be expanded to eight groups a day from June.
South Korean nationals can apply for the tour online through the National Intelligence Service website,... while foreigners can apply through tour agencies listed on the websites of the NIS or the Unification Ministry's Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News, Panmunjeom.