Your Questions Answered on How to Book DMZ tour from Seoul

Visiting the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea is quite a surreal experience. It is recommended travelers book a DMZ tour from Seoul along with their flights and hotels to ensure they do not miss an opportunity to explore this incredible region in the Korean peninsula.

Considering the sensitive nature of the location, most places in the DMZ are not accessible to tourists without booking an official tour. This is especially true if you want to visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) also known as Truce Village.

Since its not a straightforward tourist sightseeing location, today I shall try to answer everything you need to know about how to book a DMZ tour from Seoul and what you need to be aware of during the trip.

What is the DMZ and JSA tour in South Korea?

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the acting border between South and North Korea. It is roughly in the center of the Korean peninsula.

Although the Korean war ended in 1953, since no peace treaty was officially signed, the two countries are still considered to be at war due to this technicality.

Unfortunately, tensions do ride high between the two nations and both countries have active military presence to quickly deal with any unforeseen or sudden situations.

The Korean war was one of the major wars fought in the world with several countries getting involved and an estimated loss of 2.5 million people.

The DMZ is an uneasy reminder of the kind of unfortunate acts humanity is capable of and is quite a historic site. It has become a major tourist attraction over the years with millions of travelers visiting the place each year.

The Joint Security Area (JSA) is within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in a village called Panmunjom. This is an area where both South and North Korean troops stand across each other.

The JSA is famous for its blue buildings where troops from South Korea stand at one end and troops from North Korea stand at the other end. During certain times, tourists can officially take a quick step into North Korea via these blue buildings as they are located on the border of both countries.

While a DMZ tour is almost always available, the JSA aspect of the tour is not available to tourists throughout the year. This could depend on the rising tensions between the two countries or other diplomatic issues.

Regardless of whether you can visit JSA, a tour of DMZ from Seoul is an absolute must. It is totally worth it for its historic location, the knowledge you will gain on the Korean war, the sights that you will see and the overall experience that is quite humbling.

How to book DMZ tour from Seoul?

Booking a DMZ tour from Seoul is quite straightforward. It can be completed within a few minutes online. You just need your tour dates and personal details such as name, email and phone number.

Note foreign tourists need to carry their passports for ID Check at the DMZ and hence some tour operators may ask for passport details during booking.

To Book DMZ tour from Seoul, just follow the links. You can choose a group tour or private tour as per your preference.

DMZ Group Tour Booking
DMZ Private Tour Booking

Please note the following:

1) Private tours need a minimum of 2 people. This tour is perfect for families or small groups as you get your own chauffeur driven private AC car.

It is also for a longer duration and you get to see a few more attractions. However, it is at least three times the cost per person as compared to a group tour.

2) All tours start early in the morning usually around 7.30 am. Please confirm your meeting point or pick up point along with the time to meet with the tour operators after booking.

3) As mentioned already, foreign tourists need to carry their passports for ID check.

4) Group tour meeting points are usually at an exit in a subway station. Private tour pick up is at your hotel within Seoul. They do pick up from hotels just outside the main Seoul metro area but may have an extra cost.

5) All tours come included with an English-speaking guide and entry to all attractions.

6) Cancellations are allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Otherwise, you may lose your full amount if either cancelled last moment or you do not show up on time for group tour pick up.

Note: At the time of writing, the Joint Security Area (JSA) tour was closed due to various reasons including covid related laws.

Please ask your tour operator after booking the DMZ tour if JSA is open during your travel dates.

JSA tours are usually different and are not part of the standard DMZ tours from Seoul.

Everything you need to know about the DMZ tour from Seoul

While booking the DMZ tour is quite simple, it is far from an ordinary sightseeing trip.

Here, I have tried to answer all the questions I have received with respect to both DMZ tour from Seoul and the Joint Security Area (JSA).

What are the main things to see in Korean DMZ and JSA tour?

The most important attractions to see during the Korean DMZ tour are:

1) Dorasan Observatory
2) The Third Tunnel
3) Bridge of Freedom
4) Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park

Out of all the points of interest at DMZ, Dorasan Observatory is the most popular site considering it gives you a direct view of North Korea.

It is also the closest location for tourists at the border between South and North Korea.

Dora Observatory is situated on top of Mount Dorasan.

The other attractions are equally important as they give you a key insight into the Korean war.

The Third Tunnel, is quite a sight as it is a tunnel that was carved out by the North to infiltrate and invade South Korea and is just 52 kms from Seoul.

Can children visit DMZ and JSA in South Korea?

Kids or children are allowed in all DMZ tours from Seoul. There are no age restrictions.

Parents just need to keep in mind that there may be a lot of walking involved at certain sites and to carry all necessary items for child care.

Children below 12 years of age are not allowed in JSA tours. Only those 12 and above are permitted if you plan to visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) provided it is open for tourists.

What are the eating or dining options while on DMZ tour from Seoul?

Most half-day group tours to the DMZ do not include lunch. However, there are designated spots where you can buy food or some quick snacks to eat.

For the private DMZ tour, there is lunch included at a traditional Korean restaurant. Here, you can indulge in a great meal that usually includes Korean Bibimbap or something similar.

It is advisable to keep some dry snacks in your bag for the tour just in case you are hungry at any point.

Is there a dress code when on the DMZ and JSA tour from Seoul?

For DMZ tours, there is no official dress code but smart casuals are recommended. Mainly dress to respect the departed and those who lost their lives to protect freedom of South Korea.

For JSA tours, you need to wear at least semi-formals if not proper formals. This is because poorly dressed tourists can allegedly be photographed and used for propaganda by the North.

Things like torn jeans are strictly not allowed on the JSA tours.

How long is the DMZ tour from Seoul?

Almost all tours are about half a day typically starting at around 7.30 am.

DMZ Group tours by bus are around 6 hours from the time you start from Seoul while private tours are around 9 to 10 hours.

What are the rules on photography and shooting videos in the DMZ?

Photography or shooting videos are allowed only at certain designated spots during the DMZ tour.

Typically, the official tour guide will inform you where you can take photos and when you need to keep your cameras away.

At certain sites, you may have to keep your cameras in a locker provided by the tour operators before entering the attraction.

Please note that taking pictures or videos of North Korean soldiers are strictly prohibited under all circumstances.

DMZ tour pricing or how much does the DMZ tour cost from Seoul?

Pricing may differ for the DMZ tour as per the season and depending upon whether you opt for a group or private tour.

On average, DMZ group tours from Seoul cost about US $70 per person and DMZ private tours cost about US $200 per person.

How far is DMZ from Seoul?

DMZ is little over 50 kms from Seoul and takes approximately 1 hour to reach.

Can you step into North Korea during the DMZ tour from Seoul?

You cannot step into North Korea during the DMZ tour from Seoul. However, you can get a good view of North Korea from Dorasan Observatory at Mt. Dorasan.

When the JSA tours used to be open to tourists, you could use the blue buildings to take a quick step inside North Korea from within the building.

However, JSA tours are not operational at the moment and your only option is to view North Korea from a distance during the DMZ tours.

Final thoughts

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea is a place steeped in tragic history.

It is a place that reminds you of the dark side of humanity but what can come out of it if we choose to learn and take positive steps from our past.

I highly recommend all travelers to visit the DMZ and experience something that is completely out of the ordinary and distinct from the typical touristy activities we often confine ourselves to during trips.