Visiting the DMZ in South Korea with Kids: Essential Guide

Thinking of visiting the DMZ in South Korea with kids? Or want to know more about visiting the DMZ in general? We went to the border of North Korea as a family, and it was an unforgettable, bucket-list experience for all of us.

Visiting the DMZ was an experience that Mike and I were really keen to have, and when we talked about it with the boys they did a lot of research, a lot of reading, and decided it was something that they wanted to do too!

The only way that you can actually go into the DMZ is to book a tour: only registered tour guides and tour buses are permitted to enter into this area. So we booked a tour which took us from Seoul.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re Korean then you’re not allowed to do this tour. It’s only accessible to foreign residents, and you’ll need to carry your passport with you at all times, plus take your passport with you in order to be given permission to enter into the DMZ.

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Now that all the background//admin info is taken care of, let’s delve right in to everything you need to know about visiting the DMZ, with particular focus on visiting the DMZ with kids!

What Is The DMZ?

The DMZ stands for the demilitarised zone. This is a heavily militarised buffer zone that divides North Korea and South Korea. This buffer was put in place when the Korean War came to an end in 1953 and the peacefire between the two countries was signed.

It’s worth noting that this was a peacefire, rather than peace. The war between the two Koreas was never formally ended because no peace agreement was ever signed. This means that technically, the two countries are still at war.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) runs the full width across the Korean peninsula meaning that it’s 160 miles (258 km) long. It’s approximately 2.5 miles, or 4km in width. No troops are stationed within the DMZ itself, both sides of the border are heavily fortified. There are guard posts all the way along both sides of the line, and we were able to see these during our tour.

👉Planning your DMZ trip? Check out DMZ Tour Tips: What To Know Before You Go (And FAQs For Families)

Getting To The DMZ

The DMZ is around 50 km (31 miles) away from the South Korean capital of Seoul. This is where we were staying and is also the starting point for most tours of the DMZ. If you book a DMZ tour then it’s likely you’ll be given a pick up point in Seoul, and then your guide will take care of the rest.

The journey between Seoul and the DMZ took around an hour to allow for traffic getting in and out of the city. We left our meeting point in Seoul at 7.30am, and returned back to the city at around 4pm.

But the journey actually went really quickly because Olly, our tour guide, was so full of interesting facts. If you’re arriving with no knowledge at all about the DMZ or the Korean war it doesn’t matter because she shared a lot of important facts in a relatively short period of time.

Some tours will have a bus take you as far as the border into the DMZ and then you’ll need to switch onto another bus to tour the DMZ. We booked our tour with Klook (I am a Klook Affiliate) and we chose this tour because it meant we would be on one bus and with one guide for the full duration of our trip.

We booked Klook’s “DMZ Tour from Seoul with Local Expert Guide” because we wanted to have an expert guide who was knowledgeable about the nuances of the DMZ. This was listed as a half day tour, but it actually lasted 8 hours in total, which was plenty of time for us to see and do everything.

This tour cost £38.65 per person (with reduced rates of £24.75 for children aged between 3-10) and then we paid an additional £3.80 per person at the point of booking to ride the Peace Gondola in Imjingak Park.

👉You can book the exact tour we took here
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TOP TIP: When booking you can choose between either a 7.30am pick up or a 10am pick up. Even if you’re not an early bird, I strongly recommend going for the earliest option so you can see the attractions before the worst of the crowds descend!

The Places We Visited On Our DMZ Tour

As I mentioned, we took the half day DMZ tour with an expert guide. This tour included 4 stops. Those stops were:

• Stop 1 – The Imjingak Park
• Stop 2 – The Third Infiltration Tunnel
• Stop 3 – The Dora Observatory
• Stop 4 – The Unification Village

Imjingak Park

The first place we stopped was Imjingak Park. This isn’t in the DMZ: you don’t have to show your passport to access this park and Korean citizens are allowed to visit. This is a landscaped peace park and culture center with exhibitions & events dedicated to Korean unification.

There is a train station here (the last station in South Korea before you enter North Korea) and you can see the abandoned train tracks and an abandoned, bullet-ridden train that was the last one to cross the border before it was closed permanently.

You can see the Bridge of Freedom, used by prisoners of war who were repatriated from the North.

There are also several statues and memorials (one of these is above) which has a cooking pot. Our guide told us that this is symbolic and during key holidays South Koreans will place food and cooked dishes here so they can “share a meal” with their family on the other side of the border.

There are also ribbons tied everywhere containing memories, hopes, wishes for reunification. Prayers for lost loved ones. We were told many stories like this, and stories about families torn apart and permanently separated. It’s emotional. I cried. So this is definitely something to be prepared for, and its worth considering your kids emotional resilience and reactions to stories like this too.

Also in Imjingak Park are the peace gondolas. We had paid extra to ride these (you had the option for your last hour in the park to ride those or to have free time to explore the park a your own pace).

The Imjingak Peace Gondola crosses the Imjingak River and provides amazing views and the chance too see the park from a whole new perspective. You can also see some of the South Korean guard posts up close, we saw the guards in their stations down below.

The Third Infiltration Tunnel

Our next stop was the third infiltration tunnel. To get here we had to pass a check point and pass into the DMZ: 2 South Korean soldiers came onto the bus, checked our passport and ensured the guide had the right paperwork, and then we were on our way. It felt tense but exciting! No photos at all were allowed at this point.

We then stopped at the Third Infiltration Tunnel.  This is one of four known infiltration tunnels dug by North Korea under the border between North and South Korea. Discovered in 1978, it extends south of Panmunjom and is approximately 1.6 km (5,200 ft) long. You can’t take any camera (or anything else!) into the tunnel: you leave all of your possessions in lockers outside.

The tunnel was by far my favourite part of the trip, I found it fascinating. We took our trip down with a group of new military recruits who have to go down as part of their training. You descend a tunnel (that was dug by the South Koreans to intercept the North Korean tunnel) that extends 350 metres deep at a 45 degree angle. You then walk along the very narrow and short in places North Korean constructed tunnel.

This was a physically exhausting experience but it was well worth doing. It gave a real insight into the war, what people were going through.; It gave us so much to talk about with the boys, who felt like they were walking in the footsteps of the soldiers that had gone before them.

The Dora Observatory

Collapsing back on the bus with sheer exhaustion (I wish I was exagerating!) we then drove for another ten minutes until we reached the Dora Observatory.

The Dora Observatory is the closest DMZ observatory to Panmunjeom. From the Dora Observatory, one can see not only the Panmunjeom but also the village of Daeseong-dong within the DMZ, some mountains and farmlands on the North Korean side, and the city of Gaeseong. This a North Korean city and is better known as ‘propaganda city’ because noone actually lives there, it was just built as a show of strength for observers.

Sadly no photos of the new observatory or of North Korea itself were allowed (which was a shame because I would have LOVED to take a snap of North Korea). But we were allowed to take a picture of the old observatory and this is what you can see above.

This is the closest you can get to North Korea without entering the country (something hat you cant do right now, and that you can’t ever do from South Korea – the only entry point when the border is open is via China) and it was so exciting to be here.

Our guide had spent the day telling us so many stories about the propaganda wars between the two counties (One of the aspects I found most interesting about visiting the DMZ was the propaganda on both sides of the border), as well as about atrocities committed by the North Koreans against their own people. So it was also sombering to look into a country where we know there is so much poverty, mistreatment, and where live is so different to our own.

The Unification Village

Our final stop was the unification village. I will be honest and say that I didn’t find the village particularly interesting. But what was interesting was our guides description of the lives of these people living inside the DMZ! They have to show ID every time they go in and out of the village, they abide by a curfew every night, and if they can’t leave the DMZ for more than a certain number of days per year. Most of the people that live here are farmers, and the pay off for living such a restricted life? They don’t pay any taxes!

Aside from this, the unification village stop mostly involve visiting a small cafe (where you can get drinks, sweets, ice creams) and a large gift shop. This is also a great spot to take a bathroom break before the drive back to the city!

Can Kids Visit The DMZ in South Korea?

The short answer to this question is yes! The DMZ is a popular tourist attraction and is regularly listed as one of the best things to do in Seoul with kids. There is no age limit for visiting, although I will say we were one of only two families with kids on our particular tour.

I would suggest that if your kids have an interest in history (which ours do) or have seen South Korea and North Korea in the news and have been asking questions then this tour would be a good fit.

You might also want to ask if your kids are physically up to the task. Entering the third infiltration tunnel was a physically intensive experience, which saw us walk 350 metres down (and then back up again!) steep tunnels at a 45 degree angle. So its also worth asking if your kids are physically able to enjoy this part of the tour. (I’m not going to lie, that hot and sweaty walk back up nearly broke me!)

As an added bonus, kids pay a reduced rate on a lot of the tours and on most kids under 3 years old are free of charge.

Preparing Children To Visit The DMZ

Thinking of taking your kids to the DMZ? I really recommend preparing them for what they’re going to see/hear/experience as well as doing some light and age appropriate reading about the Korean War and the reason the DM exists in the first place. This is what we did and it helped to enhance the experience of our tour. For older kids and teens there are some great documentaries about the Korean war! Britanica Kids is a great online starting point with age appropriate content.

Whether your children are emotionally prepared to visit the DMZ is really dependant on the child. We felt our kids were able to cope, and we don’t regret our decision.

Wondering what emotional content kids might be exposed to? Some examples of stories our guide told us about to give you an idea of what to expect:

• That teenagers in North Korea were caught listening to K-pop, watching K-drama soap operas, which are banned in the country. A a result they were executed.
• That when she crossed the border during the war she was separated from her brother. She didn’t know if he had lived or died. They were only reunited some 20 years later.

We kept the channels of communication with our boys open throughout the visit and when any questions arose afterwards too. We talked about what life might be like for children living in North Korea. Our youngest asked questions about whether they had toys (do they have pokemon? Can they build lego?) while our more analytic oldest was focused on the geographic logistics and wanted to take about the economic implications of the war.

What If I Want To Visit The DMZ Without Taking A Tour?

Don’t like the idea of being stuck on a tour bus with a bunch of strangers? Look, I get it! We’re not huge fans of taking tours either. BUT you cannot go into the DMZ and get the full experience unless you’re prepared to work with a tour guide.

I did a lot of research, and I’ve read a lot about people that want to visit the DMZ independently. If you really don’t want to take a tour then you can get as far as the Imjingak Park alone. This is where you can ride the gondolas and is the place where South Korean citizens go to remember and memorialise their family members and loved ones across the border.

But if you want to go to the Dora Observatory, the Third Infiltration Tunnel, and the Unification Village (all areas that Korean travellers aren’t allowed to visit) then there’s no getting around this!

Buying Souvenirs At The DMZ

Who would have thought it? You’re entering the most heavily guarded border in the world, but there’s still time to stop at the gift shop! It’s strange but it’s also true. We wanted to bring something home to commemorate our trip so we visited not one but two gift shops for souvenirs.

At the Imjingak Park there is a small bureau de change style shop where you can buy North Korean money and North Korean stamps. We bought a North Korean bank note that we intend to frame alongside a photo of us at the DMZ.

At the Third Infiltration tunnel there was another small gift shop. Here we got the boys DMZ baseball caps: since our first holiday when they were very young, the boys have collected a cap from every destination we visit, so they wanted a DMZ one to add to their collection.

Is It Safe To Visit The DMZ?

The DMZ is a very very popular tourist attraction: in fact, it was much more tailored to the needs of touritst than we expected. As a result, we felt incredibly safe throughout every moment of our DMZ experience.

BUT it’s worth noting that this is a tense area, and that you are visiting the site of a very tense political situation. Things can and do go one, so it’s worth being prepared for that. We had talked to the boys before our trip about the importance of staying close to us, listening to the guide, and doing exactly what we say (no questions asked) in the very unlikely event that something did go wrong.

No tourist has ever been harmed since they started doing DMZ tours. I would never do anything I felt would put my boys at risk! But incidents can and do happen, so putting a plan in place in case it does is never a bad idea.

It’s worth noting that on the day of our visit (about an hour and a half after we left the DMZ)  10 North Korean soldiers violated the military line – but returned after warning shots were fired. Some of the North Korean soldiers were armed, according to the South Korean military. Noone was harmed in this incident, but you can read more about it here.

Important Things To Know Before Your DMZ Tour

• Don’t forget your passport! Our tour guide checked we had these before we were even allowed on the bus. We then had to fill in a form with our names and passport numbers which was given to the Korean Soldiers at the border so we could enter the DMZ.
  
• Two soldiers came onto the bus to check our faces matched our passports, and that we’d entered our passport information properly so pay attention when filling out those forms!
  
• If you’re told not to take photos, DON’T TAKE PHOTOS. Footage of the DMZ is really tightly controlled, and for good reason. I know people like to push the boundaries and break the rules but this could have big consequences here. We weren’t allowed to take photos of any military personal, of the border and the view into North Korea, or of the tunnels.
  
• Bring snacks and plenty of water! There isn’t an abudance of places to stop for something to eat (as you might expect) and we all know that hungry kids are cranky kids!
  
• Consider bringing something to occupy the kids on the bus. Especially if they can be noisy because the journey was very quiet with everyone listening to the information from the guide. We packed our boys digital drawing pads and they were happy to spend their down time drawing and playing games.
  
• Wear comfortable shoes. The tour involved a lot of walking and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my comfortable trainers on!

Continue Planning Your Trip To Seoul

Visiting the DMZ was the absolute highlight of our time in Seoul, but we had so much fun enjoying other activities in the city too. Some of our top recommendations include:

👗 Best Hanbok Rental in Seoul, South Korea

🎠 The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Lotte World Seoul

🐟 Visiting The Lotte World Aquarium In Seoul

📢 The Ultimate 5 Day Seoul Itinerary With Kids: Our Family Friendly Adventure!

Have you visited the DMZ? It’s a place that had been on our bucket list for such a long time! Is this something that you would do with your kids? I’d love to hear your thoughts! And if you’re thinking about visiting but still have questions then please put them below and i’ll ask any questions that I can!

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