Cultural Heritage Scarred with the Pain of the Korean War
Remember the pain of the Korean War through cultural relics and heritage sites near the DMZ
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Cheorwon Labor Party Office (state-registered cultural heritage)
The Cheorwon Labor Party Office is a building constructed by the North Korean Labor Party in 1946 to govern Cheorwon and its vicinity. It was built by forcefully mobilizing local labor and money, and it was a place used to control residents and suppress ideological movements.
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Back then, this was the center of Cheorwon, and most of the buildings were destroyed during the Korean War. However, the Labor Party Office still stands as an important artifact, testifying to the separation of the nation and the horrors of war. It currently serves as a national security-related tourism attraction.
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Cheorwon Seungilgyo Bridge (state-registered cultural heritage)
The construction of the Seungilgyo Bridge in Cheorwon was started by North Korea in August 1948, and was completed by South Korea on December 3, 1958. As the construction methods and builders of starting and ending were different, the shape of the bridge can be distinguished at a glance, such as by its arch size, and it is a bridge with unique meaning, as it was built through separation and the Korean War.
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There are two different stories about the name Seungilgyo. One is that it was named after the rulers of South Korea and North Korea: "Seung" from Rhee Sy(eu)ngman and "Il" from Kim Il-sung. The other story is that it was named after General Park Seung-il who was killed in the Korean War.
Defense Bunker Defense BunkerDMZ Museum
Pocheon Defense Bunker (state-registered cultural heritage)
In 1948, when opposition and conflicts between South and North Korea began to grow fiercer, this facility was built by South Korea just in case fighting broke out between the two sides. Therefore, it has high historical value as it still has traces of fighting from the Korean War.
내부DMZ Museum
The Pocheon Defense Bunker has circular reinforcement made of steel bars placed about 8 inches (20 cm) apart to create a reinforced concrete wall with a thickness of about 35 inches (90 cm). The size and shape of the muzzle vary horizontally in a lengthwise direction, with a square shape, etc., and the muzzle is wider inside than outside.
Steam Locomotive at Jangdan Station on the Gyeongui Railroad Line Steam Locomotive at Jangdan Station on the Gyeongui Railroad LineDMZ Museum
Gyeongui Line Jangdan Station Steam Locomotive (state-registered cultural heritage)
This steam locomotive traveled from Gaeseong Station to Hanpo Station in Hwanghae-do to transport military supplies for the Allied Forces during the Korean War. As the tides of the war turned, it was on its way back to the south when it was bombed and stopped at Jangdan Station on the Gyeongui Line on the night of December 31, 1950. Since then, it has remained within the DMZ.
Steam Locomotive at Jangdan Station on the Gyeongui Railroad LineDMZ Museum
Abandoned in the DMZ for over a half-century, it became rusted and corroded, turning into a dark-red color. This steam locomotive exhibits the pains of the national division as if it happens before the eyes. Therefore, to protect and manage this steam locomotive as a historical symbol, it was transported to Imjingak, preserved, and finally opened to the public in 2009.
United Nations (UN) Forces Cremation Facility United Nations (UN) Forces Cremation FacilityDMZ Museum
Yeoncheon UN Forces Crematorium (state-registered cultural heritage)
This facility, established in 1952, was used for cremating UN soldiers killed during the Korean War and was used even after the ceasefire was signed.
United Nations (UN) Forces Cremation FacilityDMZ Museum
It was built by randomly piling up nearby stones. Not only is it meant as a relic from the Korean War, but it is also valuable as a facility for remembering fallen UN soldiers.
