DMZ Transit Tour

From October 1, 2004, a bus leaves for the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from the Incheon Airport daily at 8 am. The bus carries domestic and foreign passengers on transit at Incheon International Airport to a short sightseeing trip to the DMZ, offering a chance to make the most out of their limited transit time. The DMZ Transit Tour covers the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observation Platform, the Bridge of Freedom, and Imjingak, and takes about 2 hours. The price of the package is US$18 (or 21,000 won), which includes all admissions and transportation. The tour starts at 8 am from the B2 Gate on the first floor of Incheon International Airport and ends at 12:30 pm on the 3rd floor of the airport. The package includes an English guide as well as general and historical background information on the DMZ. Making arrangements for an individual visit to the DMZ from the Incheon International Airport can be quite frustrating, as it requires visitors to travel all the way down to Seoul and take another bus to Imjingak. To spare visitors of such inconvenience and offer them a more convenient and pleasant trip to the DMZ, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has organized this DMZ Transit Tour. Nathan, an American working for the Korea National Tourism Organization, recounts his experience on the DMZ Transit Tour. * Flow of the DMZ Transit Tour * Apply for the Tour ⇒ Depart from Incheon International Airport ⇒ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel ⇒ Dora Observation Platform ⇒ Imjingak Bridge of Freedom ⇒ Return to Incheon International Airport
Nathan’s How to Best Enjoy the DMZ Transit Tour!
1. Apply for the Tour Application is received on a first-come first-served basis up until 10 minutes before the tour departure at the Gyeonggi Tourism Information Center in front of Arrival Terminal Gate B2 on the first floor of Incheon International Airport. Pay US$18 for the tour and then fill out an application form. Application is quite easy, as it requires only a few simple items of information like your passport number, full name, and country of residence.
2. Get on the Bus The total traveling time to Imjingak is approximately 70 minutes. As you ride on the bus listening to the information provided by the tour guide, the ride will seem even shorted. You will ride on a 45-seat bus, which has bigger passenger space than normal domestic buses for the convenience of foreign visitors. The bus has enough space to accommodate all the luggage of the tour participants. And the good part of it is that you don’t have to worry at all about your heavy luggage until the end of the tour, as they will be securely kept in the bus. Just relax and enjoy the tour!.
3. The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel was first discovered by Kim Bu-seong, a North Korean who defected in 1975. It is 2 meters wide and 1,635 meters long, and has the capacity to infiltrate 10,000 armed soldiers into the South in an hour. When visiting the tunnel, you must store all of your belongings except your valuables and camera in a locker at the entrance of the tunnel. Note that photographing in the tunnel is strictly prohibited, so it’s more convenient not to carry your camera.
Before entering the tunnel, all visitors must put on a helmet. You can adjust the strap of your helmet by using the screw at the back of the helmet. You will reach the tunnel after a 10-minute walk on a 300-meter downward path.
There are two ways to the tunnel: one using the monorail and the other going down by foot. But since the monorail schedule does not coincide with our tour schedule, all DMZ Transit Tour visitors will go down the tunnel by foot. The temperature inside the tunnel is rather warm compared to the outside temperature in winter, and quite cool in summer. Because of the temperature difference with the outside, there is always vapor inside the tunnel, which makes the floor almost always wet. Watch your step as you go down because the floor can be quite slippery. You also have to watch your head, as the ceiling of the tunnel is low so you may hit your head.
After walking through the tunnel, you will be ushered into the DMZ Theatre where you can watch a film featuring the weaponry that were used during the Korean War and various items that provide a glimpse into the daily life in North Korea.
4. Dora Observation Platform Weather permitting, visitors can see the city of Gaeseong in North Korea without binoculars. The Dora Observation Platform is the northernmost observatory in South Korea from which visitors can witness life in North Korea. You can also see Mt. Songaksan in Gaeseong and Gijeongdong Village, a village promoting the North Korean life.
At the platform, you will notice a photo line painted in yellow. All photos must be taken within the photo line, and note that photographing is forbidden during the explanation session by the military. The medicinal water fountain called ‘manghyangsu (Water of Nostalgia)’ not only soothes the grief of those who have lost their hometown and come here to see their homeland but also quenches the thirst of tourists. Don’t forget to drink some before leaving. Click here to learn more about the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel and Dora Observation Platform>>
5. Bridge of Freedom Until 1998, the Bridge of Freedom was the only bridge over Imjingang River. The Bridge of Freedom got its name when 13,000 war prisoners shouted "Hurray Freedom!" as they returned home crossing the bridge following the Armistice Agreement in 1953. The bridge is located at Imjingak.
During the tour, visitors are given the opportunity to tie a ribbon on the bridge to wish for unification. You can write down your own message for unification on a piece of yellow hanji paper (traditional Korean paper), fold it nicely and tie it to the bridge. From the Bridge of Freedom, you can see the train that runs up to Dorasan Station. And downstream, you will see an artificial pond in the shape of the Korean Peninsula. When you have seen the Bridge of Freedom, you have completed your DMZ Transit Tour and the time has arrived to get on the bus and return to Incheon International Airport. When you get back to the airport, it will be just in time for lunch. Lunch is not included in the tour, so you will have to buy your own lunch. Inside the airport, there are many good restaurants, ranging from fast foods, Korean, Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine. Choose your favorite and enjoy a delicious lunch!
** More Details on the DMZ Transit Tour **
Tour Price US$18 (21,000 won) Application & Departure Point Gyeonggi Tourism Information Center in front of Arrival Terminal Gate B2 Required Time 4 hours 30 minutes (8 am – 12:30 pm) / No Tour on Mondays Tour Course Depart from Incheon International Airport → 3rd Infiltration Tunnel → Dora Observation Platform → Bridge of Freedom → Return to Incheon International Airport Information Gyeonggi Tourism Organization +82-31-259-6900 (Korean, English), Korea Travel Phone +82-31-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) *This transit tour was only offered until the end of 2004. A new tour is currently in the process of being developed.
Photo gallery
< Nathan writes a personal wish for freedom on a yellow ribbon > < Barbed-wire fence at Freedom Bridge > < Ribbons placed along fence near Freedom Bridge > < Train to Dorasan Station > < Plaque at Freedom Bridge > < Medicinal water fountain at Dorasan Observation Platform >

*This transit tour was only offered until the end of 2004. A new tour is currently in the process of being developed.