The Korea DMZ location is one of the most intriguing and tense places on Earth—a stark reminder of the ongoing divide between North and South Korea. But beyond its historical significance and military presence, this area holds hidden truths that only those who visit can truly grasp.
From eerie silence and deserted highways to surreal villages and traces of daring defections, the DMZ offers a glimpse into a world frozen in conflict. In this blog, I’ll uncover six surprising facts about the Korea DMZ location that you won’t find on Google, exploring the emotions, stories, and sights that make this border unlike any other.
My Ominous Journey to the Korea DMZ Location
So, you’re living in South Korea, and you’ve heard it repeatedly: the Korea DMZ location is completely off-limits. Technically, that’s true—if you know what’s good for you. But it’s not entirely accurate. I was fortunate enough to step foot in North Korea during my time here, and it remains the most unique experience I’ve had in Korea to date..
This post won’t focus on how I got to the Korea DMZ location or what I saw, like my typical travel guides. Instead, I’ll share the details you can only feel when visiting this tense area yourself. These emotions can’t be Googled. You won’t find them in any online article because they’re something you can only experience in person. Spoiler alert: they aren’t warm or fuzzy.
Maybe you’re someone who prefers facts over feelings, and that’s perfectly fine.
You can Google “DMZ” and learn all about its history. But if you want to understand what makes the Korea DMZ location truly unforgettable, read on. You’ll feel the tension in the air, the unease as you scan distant rooftops, and the relief when you finally get back on the bus
1. The Only Cars Coming Out Are the Ones That Went In
Remember childhood road trips where you’d chant state names as you crossed borders? For my family, it was “Colorado, Colorado, Colorado…Nebraska!” But as I got older, there were times I wished I could hop into any car heading in the opposite direction.
That little game I played growing up is something the South Koreans and North Koreans will likely never play in their lifetime. At the Korea DMZ location, no one chants “North Korea, North Korea!” and celebrates crossing the border. For the brave souls who attempt to defect, it’s more like a whispered prayer: “Please, don’t let me die.”
As our bus neared the DMZ, the bustling traffic of Seoul dwindled to just a handful of cars. Pretty soon, the conversations on the bus died off and all I could hear was the sound of the tires running down the road. This eerie silence struck me hard.
The brash realization hit me–the cars headed in the opposite direction of our tour bus will always be the ones that drove up earlier. Nothing moves freely between these two Koreas.
2. People Still Live within the Korea DMZ Location
When you think of the Korea DMZ location, you likely picture barbed wire, watchtowers, and landmines. So, imagine my surprise when I learned that people live here.
On our way to the Joint Security Area (JSA), our guide explained Taesung Freedom Village. To be a member of this village, you must be born or married into the community. Outsiders are not allowed.
ncredibly, Taesung boasts one of the best schools in South Korea. Around 30 children study there with access to cutting-edge technology like 5G and free English lessons taught by United Nations Command (UNC) officers.
But how is it one of the best schools in all of South Korea can reside in the middle such a hostile area? If you kick your soccer ball over the fence, does it set off a landmine? What’s it like hearing the loudspeakers from North Korea play propaganda music throughout the valley?
Maybe it is one of the best schools, but do the pros outweigh the cons?
Across the border lies Kijong Village, or “Propaganda Village,” as the South Koreans call it. Built in 1953, its sole purpose was to lure defectors across the border.
The reality? It’s a ghost town—concrete shells with painted windows, no inhabitants, and workers maintaining empty streets. Its only claim to fame? A flagpole standing 525 feet tall, the fourth tallest in the world.
Woohoo?
3. Visiting an Infamous Axe Murder Site
If you know anything about the military, every base is named after someone significant. Camp Bonifas is the base 400m south of the southern boundary of the Korean DMZ location.
The camp honors Captain Arthur Bonifas, a Joint Security Force commander killed in 1976 while he and his team were on a mission to trim a tree at the JSA. You can read about the harrowing experience here or watch an interview of members who were actually there that day here.
Today, a memorial stands where the poplar tree once grew. Of note: its base matches the tree’s exact diameter.
What’s chilling is that visitors are allowed only a minute or two here. You can’t get off the bus, and loitering is strictly forbidden. Yet, the tour guide doesn’t explain why…
The likely reason? The same one that led to Capt. Bonifas’ death all those year ago. Just across the Bridge of No Return, only a few hundred yards away, North Korean outposts remain ever-watchful.
4. Bullet Holes Tell Stories From 2017
You’ve likely heard the word “defector” at some point during your stay in Korea. Often, this term is used in reference to someone crossing from the North into South Korea. Or, in the case of this dipshit, you could go the other way I suppose. I digress…
North Korean defectors are brave souls that are tired of living in what are likely the worst living conditions for any human being. They have to risk their life (and the lives of their family members) if they want to run across the Korea DMZ location.
In 2017, one North Korean soldier made headlines by sprinting across the Korea DMZ location to freedom.
During his escape, North Korean soldiers opened fire, riddling a nearby building with bullets. The holes remain visible to this day. The defector managed to survive only because brave South Korean soldiers dragged him to safety while he lay bleeding.
In the above image, look at the shadow cast by the retaining wall just behind the tree. That’s where that defector laid, bleeding out, before two South Korean soldiers low-crawled up to him and pulled him to safety.
Standing here, you can see the very spot where he collapsed. It’s a haunting reminder of the desperation that drives people to cross this unforgiving border.
5. Stepping Into North Korea—At Your Own Risk
The highlight of the Korea DMZ location tour is the negotiating rooms that straddle the line between North and South Korea. But entering comes with a warning. A sign plainly reads:
“Entering this room will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action”
Inside, a South Korean guard stands stone-faced, ready to stop anyone from crossing into North Korea. Oddly enough, he’s there to protect you. His job is to keep you from stepping into a reality far harsher than most can imagine.
He knows better than anyone what kind of world you’d be facing if you decided to try and escape, and his sole duty is to keep you from escaping to hell.
For the record, I jumped back and forth between North and South Korea about 15 times—just to say I did it.
6. The “Plant Peace and Prosperity” Tree: Symbol or Premonition?
Our tour concluded at a seemingly insignificant pine tree planted in 2018. South Korean and North Korean leaders planted it together as a gesture of peace.
The symbolic tree planting was dubbed “Plant Peace and Prosperity” and there were many symbolic references during the ceremony.
For example, the pine tree (a national tree in both countries) germinated in 1953, the same year both sides agreed to a ceasefire. Additionally, soil from Mt Hallasan and Paektu (the two highest and most-revered peaks in both countries) was used to help plant the tree.
However, the tree began dying almost immediately. According to our tour guide, it took months of special treatment just to keep alive.
Bad omen or just poor gardening? You decide.
FAQs about the DMZ
What is the Korean DMZ?
In plain terms, the Korean DMZ is an area of the Korean peninsula that demarcates North from South Korea. It’s established near the 38th parallel of the world where the cease-fire line existed at the end of the Korean War (1950-1953). The DMZ is not meant to be a permanent border between the two countries, rather an armistice line since a formal treaty to end the war has yet to be officially signed.
Can you visit the DMZ in South Korea?
Yes you can! A few different companies (e.g., GetYourGuide, Viator) offer group tours to the JSA, the Dora Observatory, and even the infiltration tunnels dug by the North Koreans into South Korea.
If you are active duty military, tours are available to the JSA (where I went). You’ll have to work through this website to arrange a tour and likely have Commander endorsement (not positive): https://www.panmuntour.go.kr/web/comn/main/main.do
How do you visit the Korean DMZ?
You can use group tours such as GetYourGuide and Viator to tour the Korea DMZ location. For active duty military, tours are still available at https://www.panmuntour.go.kr/web/comn/main/main.do
Why is the Korean DMZ forbidden?
From a South Korea perspective, the actual area within the DMZ is forbidden for your protection. To this day, the area is still lined with thousands of mines and unexploded ordinance (UXOs) resulting from the Korean War. From a North Korea perspective, South Korea is off-limits and you are not allowed to go to South Korea; that’s why the DMZ is there. As a matter of fact, you will be shot (no questions asked) if you are a North Korean trying to defect to South Korea. For more info on why there even are two “Koreas”, read this History article.
How dangerous is the DMZ in Korea?
If you’re walking around the DMZ (which you’re not allowed to do btw but let’s go with it), it’s exceptionally dangerous. The area within the 4km wide DMZ is still lined with thousands of mines and unexploded ordinance (UXOs) resulting from the Korean War. Additionally, if you scroll to the top of this post, you’ll see the quote that was given to my tour before we entered the negotiating rooms that straddle North and South Korea.
How wide is the DMZ between North and South Korea?
The DMZ between North and South Korea is 2½ miles wide (1.25 miles into each country) and stretches from the east coast to west coast of the Korean peninsula for 150 miles.
What incidents have occurred at the DMZ?
There have been numerous incidents at the DMZ ranging from warning shots to deter action on both sides to the infamous Axe murder incident on August 18, 1976. To read about the most significant of the incidents, click here.
What kind of wildlife and biodiversity are at the DMZ?
Since the territory within the DMZ hasn’t been disturbed since the 1950s, the DMZ is considered one of the most exquisite locations in all of Asia for biodiversity and wildlife. Home to over 6,000 species of flora and fauna, this “accidental paradise” consists of white-naped cranes, black-faced spoonbills, mandarin ducks, musk deer, and even the endangered Asiatic black bear.
