Korea remains the only divided nation in the world. Panmunjeom is where the tragic history of war can be witnessed firsthand. The Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953 at Panmunjeom, which is located on Tongillo approximately 50km north of Seoul. The meeting place is an 800-meter space called the Joint Security Area (JSA). As the only region jointly patrolled by the UN and North Korea, the area falls out of jurisdiction of both Koreas. All persons are required to obtain authorization from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to visit Panmunjeom, with tours occurring three times a day for approximately 30-45 individuals. Identification is verified at the checkpoint on Unification Bridge, and the bus drives visitors through the JSA and to the Unification Security Exhibition Hall. The tour includes visits to Freedom House, Peace House, The 3rd Tunnel, and Dora Observatory. Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea can be seen from Dora Observatory.

* This column was last updated in November 2022, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.