Last Updated: September 17, 2022
Our eldest has always been fascinated with North Korea (it’s still one of his goals to visit there one day). The fact that it is such a private and secretive country makes him all the more interested in it.
So when we were in South Korea he was very keen to visit the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ as it’s known for short, to get a glimpse into this country.
Kids and adults alike can really enjoy these sites. However, an important note before we begin. The minimum age to visit the Joint Security Area or JSA (more on what this is below) is 11 years old.
So if your kids are younger than this, they cannot experience that part of the DMZ visit.
But, you can still do the DMZ visit without the JSA element incorporated. Which is still very interesting and a pretty unique area that you’re unlikely to experience anywhere else in the world!
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What is the DMZ and JSA?
The DMZ is essentially a 4km wide buffer zone that divides the North and South Korea.
In the middle of the DMZ is the Military Demarcation Line or MDL (had enough of the 3 letter acronyms yet?). Which is the actual boarder that segregates North Korea and South Korea.
Within the DMZ is then the Joint Security Area or JSA.
The JSA has conference rooms where most of the negotiations and meetings between the North Korea and South Korea take place.
The MDL runs through these buildings and even across the tables, so that the representatives from each side can sit either end of the table to discuss things whilst still in their applicable side of the line.
The JSA is the most sensitive area of the DMZ and is why children below 11 are prohibited. It’s also important to dress smart for this area (no shorts/ripped jeans/exposed shoulders etc.) and where you will do the most passport and security checks.
The JSA part of the visit can sometimes be prohibited if tensions are even slightly raised between the two sides, so keep this in mind. It has also been closing more recently for coronavirus reasons. So always check in advance to see if it is running.
Where is the best base for visiting the DMZ?
Seoul is by far the easiest base for visiting the DMZ. With it only being about one hour from the DMZ and with many available options on offer to do the visit. It’s the sensible choice to start from for anyone wanting to visit the DMZ.
And Seoul is a great place to spend a few days in for many other reasons.
You can head to Gyeongbokgung Palace for a cultural visit. The War Memorial of Korea to understand the details of the Korean War. Or hike up Namsan Mountain to get glorious views of the city and go even higher once at the top on the Seoul Tower.
Getting about Seoul whilst there is also pretty easy with a very efficient public transport system. The Metro is efficient and far reaching and when it doesn’t quite get you where you need to go, the buses are also extremely good to use.
Get yourself a T-Money Card when you arrive, which is South Koreas version of top up card for transport. Then you can swipe on/off metros and buses to your hearts content making your trip to Seoul particularly easy for your stay before and after the DMZ.
How do you Get to the DMZ from Seoul?
The only way to visit the DMZ is by guided tour. You can’t just rock up on your own and try to get inside independently. Most tours offer either a private car transport or you will travel by coach/bus with other tourists.
It is also possible to take the DMZ train to the DMZ stations of Doransan and Baengmagoji. However, you must still buy a tour either before or once you arrive at these stations. And the tours from the trains do not include the JSA area.
So for an in between of economy, but also getting to see everything efficiently, we would recommend the the shared coach tour options.
The DMZ is only about 30 miles from Seoul and take roughly an hour to an hour and a half from the city. So it’s a pretty easy journey even with kids. You’ll maybe do other stops as well on the way there and back depending on your tour type.
There are lots of tours to choose from and lots of vendors who can supply them. There are multiple online through the usual companies such as Viator or Klook. We used Klook and it was a fine choice for us.
What’s the DMZ like for kids?
Your children’s age might determine how much enjoyment they get from the DMZ.
Younger kids might wonder what all the fuss is about.
But for older kids it can be quite interesting and unique. Our eldest found the DMZ tour very interesting and exciting.
Just make sure you choose the tour that is right for you and your kids.
If you have kids 11 or above then the full day tours including the JSA might be the ones to go for. But if your kids are below the age limit, or even if you just don’t fancy going to the military area, then the DMZ ones alone are still well worth the visit.
Aside from them including or excluding the JSA, the majority are pretty much the same. But review the tour description to check it offers everything you want and importantly all the things you don’t want!
Some tours stop for shopping, which can be annoying if you didn’t know it was part of your tour. A lot of tours without this clearly state ‘no shopping’ in the description to make it easier if you want to avoid this element of a tour.
So ensure you have a quick check of the stops you want to see and ensure they are listed before you buy. But, most will include the ones below as standard.
Most tours head to Imjingak Pyeonghoa Nuri Park. Essentially a memorial park that has monuments of various types.
You can see the Bridge of Freedom where thousands of prisoners of war were returned to the South by the North across this bridge in 1953.
In the park you can also wonder around the remains of a steam locomotive acting as a stark reminder from the war, with countless bullet holes exposed in it’s exterior.
The Third Tunnel is also on offer on many of the tours. One of the four tunnels discovered that have been dug beneath the DMZ. Believed to have been built by the North to invade the South in a surprise attack, but was never actually used.
My eldest’s highlight on the tour was the Dorasan Observatory. A high observation deck which is quite close to the North side so you can actually peer into the country.
All in all, the visit was a great morning out for our eldest. Most tours will offer some sort of refreshments. But might be a good idea to take some snacks and cash to purchase any additional food and drink.
One final tip, but a very important one is remember your passports. They will likely be checked at various points. So don’t forget it!