We woke up early and got the littles ready for the babysitter, then left the house around 7:00 to catch our DMZ tour bus. While on the bus, we watched the History Channel's documentary on the DMZ. It was so fascinating, educational, emotional, and incredible to see the history of the DMZ. We learned about surprise attacks, deaths on both sides, and escaped citizens, referred to as defects. When the video was over, we were only about 30 minutes from our first destination: Imjingak. We spent the remaining time talking about what we learned in the video and talking to Big Sis and M&M why we were seeing the DMZ and answering their questions. It was so wonderful to see the little lights go on in their brains as they started to truly understand more about world history and what wars really are and the military's responsibility and honor in protecting people.
We got to Imijingak and first went in the direction of the Freedom Bridge. Before reaching the bridge, we came to the barbed wire fence with thousands of prayer ribbons attached. It was an emotional and humbling site to see so many wishes, dreams, hopes and prayers. Some ribbons had fresh notes written in Korean, while others were worn, tattered, and faded with the many years that have gone by without peace and unification.
After passing the prayer ribbons, we came to the Steam Locomotive at Jangdan Staion of the Gyeongui Line. This train is a cultural heritage site, and a symbol of the war and loss between the North and South. This train was originally derailed by bombing during the Korean War. There were so so many bullet holes and damage to the train. It was another moment that was cause for silence in my heart.
We then came to the Bridge of Freedom! The Bridge of Freedom, or Freedom Bridge, was built to free 12,773 prisoners in 1953. The prisoners reached the line by car and walked across to their freedom. Since 1953, a train track has been built, in hopes that it will bring more people over to their freedom.
There were huge wooden doors bolted that kept the freedom bridge a one way crossing. At the doors we were greeted by hundreds more prayer ribbons. These hopes are those of the family members who have been divided and haven't seen each other in over 70 years. These hopes are for a unified Korea. Our tour guide is one of these families; her grandmother with her parents came over the the South of Korea, but her grandfather and the rest of her family are still stuck in North Korea. They have not hear or seen them since the division. North Korea does not allow any form of communication to leave it's borders.
After leaving our own prayers for unification at the bridge, we continued on to the Memorial Towers and outdoor war memorials. There were so many beautiful sculptures depicting love and freedom.
We also found so many memorials for those lost during the Korean War. We were surrounded by so much death, yet so much love. War really is such a horrible thing.
Our time was up and we headed back to the bus for a short ride to our next stop: The Third Tunnel. As time has passed, South Korea has found tunnels that North Korea dug and used to either send spies into the country, or military personnel. To date, there have been four tunnels found. The fourth tunnel was found in 1990 and none have been found since then, but that doesn't mean there aren't more out there that just haven't ben found. I was able to go to a small museum that told about the history of finding the tunnels. I wash I had more time, because it was so neat. Instead, we spent our time actually going into the 3rd tunnel. I have to admit, if I could have a do-over, I would have just taken the long ramp to the beginning of the 3rd tunnel, then gone back up and spent the remining time at the museum.
I didn't enjoy the tunnel, at all!! It was small, there were a million people and I felt like I couldn't breath. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but I definitely felt like it today! There was so much walking to get to the point where you had to turn around. At the "end" was just a steel wall, with a tiny peep hole that you could attempt to see through, but in all honesty, you couldn't see anything. The major comment I kept hearing over and over again was "that's it?!", and sure enough when I got to the end, the same words came out of my mouth. The tunnel is not very tall, so the majority of the walk I had to crouch down and walk.
The stop at the tunnel wasn't very long, just long enough to go in the tunnel with about 5-10 minutes to spare. We loaded back onto the tour bas and continues deeper towards the DMZ. Our next stop was a super short 10 minutes stop. I can't even remember the name of the place, but it was a lookout point that looked into North Korea. The wall was a little too high for Big Sis and M&M, so they didn't see much. There was also a lot of people, so no much room to catch a glimpse. But from what I did see, it was just a large forest with a few dirt roads. Nothing out of the ordinary.
We only had two stops left on our tour, and the next stop was at the Dorsan Train Station.
This is the last train station in South Korea, the tracks continue up through the DMZ zone, then into North Korea.
They call the place where the train comes in the Unification Platform, since this station was built for the intent to be used between the two countries.
On the platform are some neat little treasures. There is a piece of the German Wall that was given to South Korea as a sign that countries can be brought back together. There was also a small train museum that displayed the hope of the station and the use of it so far.
The kids really loved the part where they gave us a souvenir train ticket and got the ticket stamped. The train station is pristine clean and very gorgeous. I do hope this station gets opened for the intent it was built for.
We loaded the bus for our final destination: The Joint Security Area! Before we could enter the JSA, we first had to be given a military debrief. We watched a short video, then were given all the rules. We also had to read a paper and sign a release that stated, "The visit to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom will entail entry into a hostile are and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action." As they were telling us about different things that happened at the JSA, I was beginning to wonder to myself, "why did I bring my kids here?" I defiantly felt the full force of war and tension, hatred and the power of Satan here.
As we came to the JSA and walked out of the main building into the Truce Village and fully faced North Korea, I wanted to grab my girls and put them behind me. As you face North Korea, you are filed in a straight line facing North Korea and have to stand there for a few minutes. Hand must be kept down and sudden moves are a big no no. When we came there was not a single North Korean in sight. That made me feel a little better. Once we were given the OK, we were lead to one of the small blue buildings, T 2.
T 2 is the building where tourist are allowed to walk in and cross over for a brief minute into North Korea. This room is the Military Armistice Commission conference room. This is where talks between the two countries happen. There were some super strict rules while in T2, naturally. There were also two huge guards there guarding the door that opens into North Korea.
The super cool thing about T2 is that it separates North and South Korea and as a visitor, we were able to step across the DMZ line into North Korea. It was strange being in a room where leader of both countries come to try to talk peace.
We walked around, looked out the window and saw the DMZ line dividing the building. We also took a picture with the guard, and just took it all in! We asked our military escort a few question, then just like that, we were leaving North Korea.
It was a long day, but it was extremely educational, humbling and amazing. I am so grateful I was able to take my older girls through a real world, real life history lesson. It was incredible to be there and it is a memory I will always remember! Here's my own prayer that unification will happen soon and families will be reunited and love will heal the drift between North and South Korea.
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