Virtual Trip to the DMZ Border Area

Located near the DMZ, Yongneup, or Dragon Swamp, is not only Korea's highest-altitude wetland but also the country's first wetland to be designated as a Ramsar site. This culturally significant highland wetland is situated on Daeam Mountain in Inje-gun.

Dragon Swamp is home to a variety of wildlife, including endangered species, and is an ecologically invaluable site with a unique natural environment, where a soft brown peat layer, or a layer of decaying organic matter, has been  piling up for more than 4,000 years, reaching a thickness equal to the height of a human.

Don't miss out on a chance to take in the unique beauty of Dragon Swamp by strolling along the surrounding trails.

At one time the site of a fierce battle that occurred during the Korean War, the DMZ Punch Bowl Trail is the northernmost forest trail in Korea, located at the forefront of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

Now, more than 70 years after the Korean Armistice Agreement, the DMZ Punch Bowl Trail serves as one of Korea's premier forest trails, where one can appreciate the preciousness of peace and freedom, as well as the power of nature as it recovers after having been torn apart by war. 

The first geopark in Korea to be formed around a river is located just near the DMZ. Hantan River Geopark features a beautiful natural landscape and is full of geological, ecological, archaeological, historical, and cultural value. During your visit, be sure to check out Goseokjeong Pavilion, a must-see destination at the geopark.

To say that nearly all regions of the Korean Peninsula suffered due to the Korean War is no exaggeration. The areas surrounding the DMZ are particularly rich in historical sites that commemorate the Korean War.

A prime example is the Labor Party Office, which was built by North Korea but currently sits on South Korean soil. Although almost completely destroyed during the Korean War, what remains of the building is an important cultural asset that serves as a testament to the horrors of division and war.

The construction of Seungil Bridge was started in 1948 by North Korea but interrupted due to the Korean War, and was finally completed in 1958 by South Korea. Due to this unique circumstance and the different construction methods applied, the shapes of the piers and sizes of the arches show a striking disparity, and as such, the bridge holds unique significance with respect to division and war in Korea.

Vehicles can cross the river via the new adjacent Hantan Bridge, but people can still walk across the original Seungil Bridge, respectively built before and after the Korean War by North and South Korea.