Demilitarized Zone, Joint Security Area, and the Trick Eye Museum

Not too long ago, I had the change to go see the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea as well as the Joint Security Area (JSA). It was a tour that my study abroad program booked for all the students here in Korea, but it was different from our other excursions because Jaehoon, the employee who usually serves as our tour guide, wasn't allowed to enter the DMZ. In fact, no South Korean citizens are allowed to go in, even for organized tours.

In case you don't know, the Demilitarized Zone is a sort of buffer zone between North and South Korea. It's about 2 1/2 miles wide and includes military outposts from both sides, the JSA (which is essentially a military camp on the official boundary between the North and South), and several small villages.

A group of myself and about 30 other people boarded a bus with our tour guide and set off for the border. The excitement started almost immediately, with our tour guide briefing us on our way there. He informed us that there was a long list of taboo clothing items such as ripped jeans, sleeveless shirts, mini skirts, short pants, military cloth, exercise clothes, round neck t shirts, and sandals, but if we needed to change he had extra clothing we could use. Next, he told us that there is a strict NO PICTURE policy unless he specifically informs us that it is okay to take pictures. There is also no communication allowed with the Northern people, troops, or personnel, including pointing, waving, etc. Lastly, the only thing you can carry with you is your camera and whatever you can fit in your pockets. There are no purses, backpacks, etc. allowed in case something happens and you have to make a run for it. Scary, right? There were also three separate security points we had to pass through, and they checked the passport of every passenger at each one.

There's a lot I could say bout the DMZ and JSA, but I'll try to keep it rather short. There were a lot of interesting facts along the way. For example, on the road to the DMZ we kept passing huge concrete walls on either side of the road. Turns out, those were anti-tank walls. In case of an attack, TNT can be used to topple the walls onto the road, effectively blocking North Korean tanks. Also, all the soldiers at the DMZ are required to wear sunglasses at all times, regardless of the weather, because staring contests or "eye fighting" became common between the Northern and the Southern soldiers. 

One fascinating thing we got to see was the Bridge of No Return. Basically, it was a bridge connecting the Northern and Southern countries, over which prisoners of war were returned at the end of the war. North Koreans held captive by the South were given the option to stay or return to their homeland in the North. But once they made there decision and crossed the bridge, there would be no opportunity to return. Hence, the name. 

We also got to see the JSA, which has the military demarcation line run through it. We entered one rectangular building in the JSA, and our tour guide told us to look out the window at a rectangular cement block on the ground outside. He then informed us that the block was the official dividing line between North Korean and South Korean territory, and we were standing on the North side! Although it's allowed in that building, it was still a weird feeling to be in North Korea. Not very many people they've been in North Korea and returned safely! 

Overall, the tour was pretty awesome and educational as well!

Switching to a completely different and much lighter topic... I went to Hongdae last weekend and did some very fun things! To start with, we went to a sheep cafe! Literally, a place where you can buy coffee, juice, waffles, etc. and then pet sheep. Yep. There was a little pen outside the cafe with very clean, well-kept sheep. It was pretty odd but pretty fun! 

Next, we visited the Trick Eye Museum. It's basically a museum of paintings and props that, if you take a picture of it at a certain angle, make very unrealistic scenes look very real. For example, you can make it look like you're in a famous painting or like you're being eaten by a giant fish. It's very fun to do and you get some hilarious picture from it! 

But even more impressive than the Trick Eye Museum was the Ice Museum we got free admission to with our purchase of Trick Eye Museum tickets. It is literally a huge room that is kept at a temperature below freezing and there are all sorts of ice sculptures you can pose with! There are igloos, Santa's sleigh, a horse-drawn carriage... there's even an ice slide you can go down! There's also an entire, life-size living room and bedroom, including chairs, a television, a bed, a fireplace, and even a piano... all made of ice!! It was very impressive. Super cool.

But anyways, I'm tired of writing and you're tired of reading, so I'll sum it all up in one statement: South Korea is an endless fountain of fun things to do that will take your breath away!