As you can see we were not able to maintain our blogs while we were in Korea so now that we are back in our beloved US, it is time to finish our story. On my last post we were returning to Seoul and the Lotte World Hotel. Our first day back in Seoul, we went to the DMZ where peace and tension exist together.
The USO Panmunjom tour is one of the best ways to understand the situation, the tensions, and the reality of the North and South Korea division. From the time you start to prepare for the trip until your last view of the barbed wire fence that lines the "Freedom Road" or "Unification Road" (the highway connecting Seoul to Panmunjom), your understanding of the recent history of Korea will take on a new dimension.
In preparing for the trip, we were reminded that there was a dress code to follow. Also, very important, be sure to bring your passport or military ID the day of the tour.
We arrived at Camp Bonifas, whose motto "In Front of Them All" provides some idea as to its position in relation to the border. We sat through a 20 minute slide presentation briefing, highlighting the history and present situation at the DMZ. The tour of Panmunjom itself is guided by United Nations Command military personnel who will take you through such sites as the MAC (Military Armistice Commission) building, the Pagoda at Freedom House, and Checkpoint 3, which is near the scene of the 1976 Ax Murder Incident. You'll also see the Bridge of No Return, the only bridge connecting North and South Korea. You'll also be able to see the giant flagpole at the North Korean Propaganda Village. Through-out the tour, the various anecdotes regarding the rivalry between North and South Korea (such as this flagpole) will alleviate the seriousness of the sites. It will also, however, reinforce the grim reality of the country.
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