Imjingak Tourist Site

Except from Unification Observatory, we also visited Imjingak. Another worth-seeing in Gyeonggido which is also related to unification and freedom. At the Imjingak Toursit Site, you can see the Bridge of Freedom, Peace Bell and Unification Fond. It is free of admission and open throughout the year.

The Peace Bell which is 2.23m in diameter, 3.8m high and weighs 21 tons is made of bronze and tin in the korean traditional style. The bell pavilion which is made of wood with a four-sided arched roof, sits on an area of 70.5m² and is 12.18m high.

Those who are interested in ringing the Peace Bell, in the name of peace, unification and hope may purchase tickets which cost 10,000 won or around $10. The ringing time is 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The method of ringing is seven strikes by individual or a group.



Standing behind Mangbaedan Memorial Altar at Imjingak Square, Freedom Bridge takes its name from the return of 12,773 prisoners of war in 1953 in the first exchange of prisoners after the signing of the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War.

Two railrooad bridges on the Gyeongui Line originally spanned the Imjingang River side-by-side. Both were destroyed by bombing and only the piers remained. To enable exchange of prisoners of war, the west was rebuilt as a temporary structure over the original piers. The repatriates were taken to Freedom Bridge by trucks and they crossed the bridge on foot.

Freedom Bridge is 83m long, 44.5m wide, and 8m high. It is a wooden structure reinforced by steel. Freedom Bridge has little architectural value but hold tremendous symbolic importance of "Return to Freedom".



See that railway train to North Korea? Everything is all set and we're just waiting for the two countries to be united.



The remained of the train that was used by the people of North and South Koreans is still seen at the site. This steam locomotive is a symbol of the tragic history of the division into North and South Korea, having been left in the DMZ since it got derailed by bombs by the Korean war. It says that there are more than 1,020 bullet holes at the locomotive which shows how cruel situation had happened at that time.



There are also some pictures of what happened during the war.



There's also an observatory or lookout to see some sites of North Korea.



For more information, contact 031-953-4744.

Odusan Unification Observatory

It was summer vacation and we had 3 days vacation so we decided to visit Gyeonggido Province. Our first destination was the Odusan or Odu Mountain Unification Observatory in Paju City.

Odusan or Odu Mountain was a ferocious battlefield about 1600 years ago, when Goguryeo and Baekje bled for the posession of a region near Han and Imjin River for 106 years. Recently, the archeological site of Odusan Fortress and Baekje potteries were excavated in the vicinity and the area was designated as Historic Site No.351.

Cars are not allowed to enter the site but there are free shuttle buses so we decided to park the car at the parking lot where we can also take the shuttle bus.



On the first floor, you can see the North Korea Exhibition Hall and room to experience North Korea. At the North Korea Exhibition Hall, there are some pictures of the war and the Presidents.



It's now that I knew about the first Presidents until the former President. I felt so sad when I saw the picture of the former President Noh Moo Hyun who contributed a lot for the Unification of the two countries but too bad that he passed away without seeing the two countries United.



There are also North Korean medicines, products for export, life goods, wishing room where you can write your wish for Unification (the notes can be restored in a time capsule until the day of Korean Unification), stamps, military, culture and life, North Korean clothes, elementary school classroom and residence master bedroom.

The souvenir shop.



North Korean master bedroom.



The KTX train that shows that we can access other countries easily after unification. This train shows the access from South Korea - North Korea - Paris.



The outdoor sightseeings while waiting for the shuttle bus.



At the second floor are the Unification Exhibition Hall, Theater, etc. We didn't bother ourselves to watch the theater so we went upstairs to see the observation room and telescope in the outside area.

The theater.



The view outside. It's better to use the telescopes to see the North Korea. Just insert 500 won.





The Unification Observatory is open throughout the year from 9:00 a.m. For group reservation call 031-945-3171. From Seoul, you can reach the 120-meter hill within 40 minutes and have a good view of North Korea across the Imjin River. It's the place where the Han and Imjin river meet and flow into the West Sea. It's the place where Goguryeo and Baekje Dynasty fought fiercely in the age of the three states. The National security education in the place leads to the people specially of Korea's dream of Unification.