Joint Security Area Korea

vg88

Trying to book a tour to got see the Joint Security Area hut on the border between the two Koreas. I can't seem to find a tour where you actually get to go into the hut as it isn't the most straight forward from Souel.

Has anyone done this before and actually got to get into the hut?

Fred Swanson

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vg88

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Thank you

lc180

I did the Panmunjom tour a few years ago with tourdmz.com.
Any questions feel free to ask.

vg88

lc180 wrote: »

I did the Panmunjom tour a few years ago with tourdmz.com.
Any questions feel free to ask.

Would you recommend a full day or half day tour?

What were the best parts and the not so best parts of the trip?

lc180

moloner4 wrote: »

Would you recommend a full day or half day tour?

What were the best parts and the not so best parts of the trip?

The tour I did was 5 or 6 hours. You meet at the tour companies office, get on a bus, a Korean guide talks over the history of the conflict on the journey out to the DMZ. All very interesting. You have to sign a waver stating you know the risks of entering the military area and if **** hits the fan you are on your own!
As expected the tour is micro managed, you stand were they tell you to stand, take photos when they say you can, no freedom to walk about (except the gift shop, yep there's one of them hah) all very intense which adds to the experience.
You stop for lunch on the journey back to the city, think it was a bowl of beef noodle soup which was top notch.

I recommend doing the tour if you get a chance, it's not the most exciting, its a tense conflict zone so don't expect any craic. Its very one sided obviously. My tour guide was a little in-humane in her tone towards North Koreans which I didn't care for but it's to be expected.

I did see some people on the tour who got dragged along by family or partners. With no interest in the history of it all I'd say this tour is a bore. I really enjoyed it but each to their own.


Hope this helps!

killbillvol2

I've only done it from the North Korean side but I'm pretty sure you don't get into the blue huts on the border if that's the hut you're talking about?

NeonCookies

We did the DMZ tour 3 from seoulcitytours.net a few years ago. We were collected from our hotel and the day was well organised. Much the same experience as lc180 regarding signing waivers (very sobering when your guide tells you your accompanying soldier has gone to get bullets for his gun as we're entering the military area, but not to worry as he'll protect us if need be!) and being very controlled (e.g. you could not point at anything!) We went into one of the blue huts that straddle the border and could wander around it. Very informative day and we both really enjoyed it.

vg88

killbillvol2 wrote: »

I've only done it from the North Korean side but I'm pretty sure you don't get into the blue huts on the border if that's the hut you're talking about?

Can I ask does going North Korea effect on travelling anywhere else in your experience? i.e. the USA?

NeonCookies wrote: »

We did the DMZ tour 3 from seoulcitytours.net a few years ago. We were collected from our hotel and the day was well organised. Much the same experience as lc180 regarding signing waivers (very sobering when your guide tells you your accompanying soldier has gone to get bullets for his gun as we're entering the military area, but not to worry as he'll protect us if need be!) and being very controlled (e.g. you could not point at anything!) We went into one of the blue huts that straddle the border and could wander around it. Very informative day and we both really enjoyed it.

I hope this is the hut you go at @3.30 in the video. Is it only 4 minutes you get inside?

NeonCookies

moloner4 wrote:

I hope this is the hut you go at @3.30 in the video. Is it only 4 minutes you get inside?

Yes that's it. It felt like we were there longer than 4 minutes, I don't remember feeling rushed or anything. But there were far fewer people in our group than there are in that video so maybe it depends on demand.

Fred Swanson

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lc180

NeonCookies wrote: »

Yes that's it. It felt like we were there longer than 4 minutes, I don't remember feeling rushed or anything. But there were far fewer people in our group than there are in that video so maybe it depends on demand.

Same as that, I don't remember being rushed at all.
Watching tourists taking selfies with most serious and intense looking North Korean soldiers was pretty surreal!

NeonCookies

lc180 wrote:

Same as that, I don't remember being rushed at all. Watching tourists taking selfies with most serious and intense looking North Korean soldiers was pretty surreal!

Before or after we went into the blue hut, we all stood facing the North Korean side and the guide said we could take photos (we weren't allowed to take photos of the South Korean side for security reasons) so everyone started taking photos of the North Korean building behind the blue huts and, of course, zooming in on the lone North Korean soldier standing guard there. He stood there for a minute, then side stepped behind a column out of view!

killbillvol2

moloner4 wrote: »

Can I ask does going North Korea effect on travelling anywhere else in your experience? i.e. the USA?

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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There's no stamp in the passport - the visa is a separate paper booklet which, unfortunately, you don't get to keep.