Civilian tours to Panmunjeom resume on Nov. 6th after one-year hiatus due to African swine fever
- 4 years ago
통일부, 내달 4일 판문점 견학 재개…중단 1년여만
In October last year, South Korea suspended tours of the inter-Korean border truce village of Panmunjeom and the hiking trails in the area as part of measures to prevent the spread of African swine fever.
After a one-year suspension, South Korea is resuming tors to the area - the only point in which soldiers from the two Koreas come face to face.
Kim Dami has the details.
After a one-year hiatus because of African Swine Fever, the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom will welcome visitors back from November 6th.
"Registering for a tour used to involve several ministries, but now it will be done entirely under the Unification Ministry. Not only groups but also individuals and families can now register for tours."
Before, ordinary citizens had to go through the National Intelligence Service, teachers and students through the Office of the South-North Dialogue and foreigners through travel agencies.
Now spots can be reserved just 14 days in advance instead of 60 days.
And... they can be for individuals and families of up to five members instead of just tour groups.
The tours will officially resume on November 6th after a test run of 80 visitors on November 4th.
Reservations can be made online at panmuntour-dot-G-O-dot-K-R starting Tuesday.
No case of African swine fever has been reported in the area since June.
The usual COVID-19 quarantine measures will apply, though, such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
Since the Inter-Korean Summit in Pyeongyang in 2018, the once heavily guarded inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom has become more of a symbol of peace, prosperity and disarmament.
In a historic encounter, it's the site where the leaders of South and North shook hands.
The ministry said that although Seoul neither consulted nor notified Pyeongyang of the plan to resume the tours, there are no issues when it comes to security.
"For safety, the tours will start with small groups and then gradually increase in size and frequency. The Unification Ministry says the new system will lay the cornerstone for the area's demilitarization... and for free access to it, as agreed by the two Koreas in the 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration.
Kim Dami, Arirang News."
In October last year, South Korea suspended tours of the inter-Korean border truce village of Panmunjeom and the hiking trails in the area as part of measures to prevent the spread of African swine fever.
After a one-year suspension, South Korea is resuming tors to the area - the only point in which soldiers from the two Koreas come face to face.
Kim Dami has the details.
After a one-year hiatus because of African Swine Fever, the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom will welcome visitors back from November 6th.
"Registering for a tour used to involve several ministries, but now it will be done entirely under the Unification Ministry. Not only groups but also individuals and families can now register for tours."
Before, ordinary citizens had to go through the National Intelligence Service, teachers and students through the Office of the South-North Dialogue and foreigners through travel agencies.
Now spots can be reserved just 14 days in advance instead of 60 days.
And... they can be for individuals and families of up to five members instead of just tour groups.
The tours will officially resume on November 6th after a test run of 80 visitors on November 4th.
Reservations can be made online at panmuntour-dot-G-O-dot-K-R starting Tuesday.
No case of African swine fever has been reported in the area since June.
The usual COVID-19 quarantine measures will apply, though, such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
Since the Inter-Korean Summit in Pyeongyang in 2018, the once heavily guarded inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom has become more of a symbol of peace, prosperity and disarmament.
In a historic encounter, it's the site where the leaders of South and North shook hands.
The ministry said that although Seoul neither consulted nor notified Pyeongyang of the plan to resume the tours, there are no issues when it comes to security.
"For safety, the tours will start with small groups and then gradually increase in size and frequency. The Unification Ministry says the new system will lay the cornerstone for the area's demilitarization... and for free access to it, as agreed by the two Koreas in the 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration.
Kim Dami, Arirang News."