Dec 13, 2014, 6:04 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
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A wiki might keep this more usable; be sure to update if you're aware of changes.
DMZ, courtesy Koridoor Tours
The official Visit Korea website (English version linked to) has a tour Finder; this link is set to search for Panmunjom, frequently spelled Panmunjeom, as well as the Joint Security Area (JSA) and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This page lists some tour companies, presumably all ICSC APPROVED.
Note: Panmunjeom is closed Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.
Notices
※ Reservations should be made 2 weeks prior to visit, via the local travel agencies designated by United Nations Command - International Cultural Service Club (ICSC) - link to ICSC and further information, contacts (for list of agencies in link provided above).
Address: Eoryong-ri, Jinseo-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do Eoryong-ri
경기 파주시 진서면 어룡리 일대
type: Demilitarized Zone (PLZ)
* Please keep in mind that not all of those that apply will be given permission to tour the Panmunjeom area, however other tours of the DMZ area can be arranged. To see the list of restricted countries, see below.
Introduction
Panmunjeom is located in the demilitarized zone, 50 km north from Seoul and 10 km east from the city of Gaeseong.
This area is most notably known for the peace talks that were held here on October 25, 1951 and was designated as the Joint Security Area on July 27, 1953 when the armistice agreement was signed.
Once used as a management office, Panmunjeom has been used as now a conference room since the Red Cross held an international conference here on September 20, 1971.
It is the only place where North Koreans and South Koreans can come in contact on a daily basis and make efforts towards the peace of Korea.
For much more specific information, tour applications, etc. click here.
Please note some rules required for visitors, including dress code, enforced by the United Nations Command and by extension every tour company.
1. Dress Code
- According to UN Regulations, following attires are not allowed for visitors to Panmunjom
..1) Collarless T-shirt, sleeveless shirt, Tank top, anything similar to bathing suit,
.....(Collarless dress shirt and blouse are acceptable)
..2) Navy working uniform, blue jeans or all types of denim wear
.....(Designer jeans, black jeans and all colors of jeans are included)
..3) Hiking attires and shorts of any kind
..4) Attires those expose entire arm or attires those without back
..5) All types of see-through attires.
..6) Tight knit wear, upper wear, pants, tight fit training wear
..7) Slippers and sandals of any kinds. (Dress sandals and open-toed dress shoes are acceptable)
..8) BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform)
..9) Inappropriate hair style (including excessive hair dying) and too revealing attire are prohibited.
..* Security Escorts from UNCSB-JSA are granted with full authority to discern inappropriate attires in addition to the regulations stated in this guidebook.
..* Anyone with inappropriate attires will not be allowed to enter JSA.
2. Punctuality
...Tour will be canceled for anyone who fails to arrive in Camp Bonifas a minimum of 10 minutes before the tour starts.
3. JSA-Panmunjom is a volatile area where the South and the North are standing face to face. Therefore, all individual activities are prohibited, and visitors must follow the instructions from Security Escorts and other guards.
The USO TOur mentioned by posters is operated by Koridoor, from the USO at Camp Kim; it departs 0730. See post #38 or click here.
Updated 13 December 2014 - JDiver
(lower right wiki corner)A wiki might keep this more usable; be sure to update if you're aware of changes.
DMZ, courtesy Koridoor Tours
The official Visit Korea website (English version linked to) has a tour Finder; this link is set to search for Panmunjom, frequently spelled Panmunjeom, as well as the Joint Security Area (JSA) and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This page lists some tour companies, presumably all ICSC APPROVED.
Note: Panmunjeom is closed Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.
Originally Posted by Visit Korea website
Notices
※ Reservations should be made 2 weeks prior to visit, via the local travel agencies designated by United Nations Command - International Cultural Service Club (ICSC) - link to ICSC and further information, contacts (for list of agencies in link provided above).
*Panmunjom tour can be canceled even after the tour schedule is finalized under following circumstances
- Conferences or any other important events are scheduled/taking place in Panmunjom.
- Submitted documents are found to have false information or grave defects.
- Tours can’t be conducted due to internal reasons of the UNC (National holidays, other holidays, UNC military training, etc)
- Conferences or any other important events are scheduled/taking place in Panmunjom.
- Submitted documents are found to have false information or grave defects.
- Tours can’t be conducted due to internal reasons of the UNC (National holidays, other holidays, UNC military training, etc)
경기 파주시 진서면 어룡리 일대
type: Demilitarized Zone (PLZ)
* Please keep in mind that not all of those that apply will be given permission to tour the Panmunjeom area, however other tours of the DMZ area can be arranged. To see the list of restricted countries, see below.
Introduction
Panmunjeom is located in the demilitarized zone, 50 km north from Seoul and 10 km east from the city of Gaeseong.
This area is most notably known for the peace talks that were held here on October 25, 1951 and was designated as the Joint Security Area on July 27, 1953 when the armistice agreement was signed.
Once used as a management office, Panmunjeom has been used as now a conference room since the Red Cross held an international conference here on September 20, 1971.
It is the only place where North Koreans and South Koreans can come in contact on a daily basis and make efforts towards the peace of Korea.
Please note some rules required for visitors, including dress code, enforced by the United Nations Command and by extension every tour company.
Originally Posted by Regulations
1. Dress Code
- According to UN Regulations, following attires are not allowed for visitors to Panmunjom
..1) Collarless T-shirt, sleeveless shirt, Tank top, anything similar to bathing suit,
.....(Collarless dress shirt and blouse are acceptable)
..2) Navy working uniform, blue jeans or all types of denim wear
.....(Designer jeans, black jeans and all colors of jeans are included)
..3) Hiking attires and shorts of any kind
..4) Attires those expose entire arm or attires those without back
..5) All types of see-through attires.
..6) Tight knit wear, upper wear, pants, tight fit training wear
..7) Slippers and sandals of any kinds. (Dress sandals and open-toed dress shoes are acceptable)
..8) BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform)
..9) Inappropriate hair style (including excessive hair dying) and too revealing attire are prohibited.
..* Security Escorts from UNCSB-JSA are granted with full authority to discern inappropriate attires in addition to the regulations stated in this guidebook.
..* Anyone with inappropriate attires will not be allowed to enter JSA.
2. Punctuality
...Tour will be canceled for anyone who fails to arrive in Camp Bonifas a minimum of 10 minutes before the tour starts.
3. JSA-Panmunjom is a volatile area where the South and the North are standing face to face. Therefore, all individual activities are prohibited, and visitors must follow the instructions from Security Escorts and other guards.
Updated 13 December 2014 - JDiver
Recommended Panmunjom / Panmunjeom JSA and DMZ tours (Korea)?
Aug 26, 2018, 7:56 am
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I'd contact them directly to find out what's going on. I know when we first looked everything on their calendar showed as "No" and they told us this is because the UN releases details on availability at certain times during the year. Don't know if that's what is happening here, and with the increased number of negotiations at the JSA there will almost assuredly be more closures, but this company was very responsive when we emailed.
Hope they respond fast, as Id like to book my award flights before they disappear and I will be going on different dates depending if theres a tour or not
Aug 26, 2018, 1:53 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,057
Tried to book this and their calendar has "No" for JSA (and all tours) last 2 weeks of Oct, are they soldout, any other decent group to go with? Or is JSA Closed then? appreciate any insights as its the only reason I was gonna stay and not simply connect @ ICN w/o JSA tour I can either connect onwards to my destination or cut back the # of nights I was going to stay and changemy arrival date if there arent any JSA tours
Aug 26, 2018, 2:50 pm
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Im looking to tour on 10/25 if I cant then I want to go the week before,its only a positioning place to fly non-stop to XIY and use TWOV, flying via HKG departing XIY. w/o the JSA tour it will be Thurs-Sun stay with the tour a Weds-Sun. also each week Id have to use a different Carrier to XIY = not being able to book any award travel till they confirm either way, hope they get back to me tomorrow no tour I want to go the week the 25th
then cant book the XIY-HKG-US flights till I know when Im going to ICN
Aug 26, 2018, 7:50 pm
#49
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Reply from Panmunjeom
Thanks for your interest in our Panmunjom tour. Panmunjom tours are available from Tuesday through Friday and tours cannot be conducted on weekends, holidays or military training days. But Panmunjom NO tour day schedule for the Q4(Oct to Dec) of 2018 has not been decided by the UNC yet so we can't tell you any confirmation regarding your tour request. We expect this schedule would be issued in mid September, so Please contact us after 15 Sep for the tour request.
So anyone else looking to go seems you too will have to wait till 9/15 or abouts to know if there will be any tours allowed,craz
Now that I know no outfit will know anything till mid-Sept I have a better handle on my plans, seems its best to go and have a 4 night stay and if the JSA opens great if not then do the 1/2 day as something is better then nothing and spend Fri checking out the town. It looks as if Koridor is very close to The Grand Hyatt (walkable in fact) which leads me to want to book with them as I dont have to put up with morning rush hour be it traffic or subway to get to the Koreana Hotel for Panmunjom. Is there a big difference in the 2 tours? where its worth the burden of getting to Panmunjom over Koridor? thx
So anyone else looking to go seems you too will have to wait till 9/15 or abouts to know if there will be any tours allowed,craz
Now that I know no outfit will know anything till mid-Sept I have a better handle on my plans, seems its best to go and have a 4 night stay and if the JSA opens great if not then do the 1/2 day as something is better then nothing and spend Fri checking out the town. It looks as if Koridor is very close to The Grand Hyatt (walkable in fact) which leads me to want to book with them as I dont have to put up with morning rush hour be it traffic or subway to get to the Koreana Hotel for Panmunjom. Is there a big difference in the 2 tours? where its worth the burden of getting to Panmunjom over Koridor? thx
Last edited by craz; Aug 26, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Aug 28, 2018, 7:03 am
#50
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AS MVPG, HH Diamond
Posts: 232
For us, talking with the North Korean defector really added to the tour. My understanding is that all the JSA tours are the same once you are inside the JSA - we even had people from other DMZ tours get on our bus for the tour of the JSA - but the differentiator for Panmunjom's tours is having a defector talk with the group beforehand. If that's of less interest to you, then you'll still see the same things once you're at the JSA with any tour that includes it on the itinerary.
Aug 28, 2018, 9:21 am
#51
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
For us, talking with the North Korean defector really added to the tour. My understanding is that all the JSA tours are the same once you are inside the JSA - we even had people from other DMZ tours get on our bus for the tour of the JSA - but the differentiator for Panmunjom's tours is having a defector talk with the group beforehand. If that's of less interest to you, then you'll still see the same things once you're at the JSA with any tour that includes it on the itinerary.
The defector is of great interest, but its on the JSA tour (maybe all full day tours) if theres no JSA then I will do a 1/2 day tour = no defector and for sure use Koridor
thx for the info
Aug 29, 2018, 5:40 am
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
thx, read that on The Hyatt master thread, But its a 5 min walk from where I need to be on Fri and Sat, so no choice. otherwise would have gone to the PH.
Sep 13, 2018, 10:33 am
#54
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
No JSA Tour on available date, is 1/2 day worth it?
Checked and saw that there arent any JSA tours on Thurs in Oct, only day I could have gone. Is the 1/2 day tour of any value? includes Tunnel #3
any other worthwhile things or places to go/see in Seoul?Arriving Weds early afternoon , leaving Sun morn and Sat all day is already filled with personal things, was hoping to do JSA on that Thurs
any other worthwhile things or places to go/see in Seoul?Arriving Weds early afternoon , leaving Sun morn and Sat all day is already filled with personal things, was hoping to do JSA on that Thurs
Sep 15, 2018, 5:54 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,353
If you TRULY have genuine interest in the war and DMZ, go. If you just want the "oooh ahhh scary North Korea" stuff, skip it without JSA. The tunnel is literally just a tunnel you walk down and then have to walk all the way back up. The observatory and viewing area is cool, but it's still just simple Korean countryside. There's no "security theater."
I always recommend Tongin Market Lunchbox Cafe to try all the different kimchis and side dishes (don't eat like fried chicken and basic street food here). At other markets you have to buy a large quantity so the Lunchbox Cafe is ideal....can pick what you want. Get an empty tray and bag of coins. Item price varies in number of coins.
Also visit Ikseon-dong it's a "hot place" now with many cafes, food, and traditional atmosphere.
I always recommend Tongin Market Lunchbox Cafe to try all the different kimchis and side dishes (don't eat like fried chicken and basic street food here). At other markets you have to buy a large quantity so the Lunchbox Cafe is ideal....can pick what you want. Get an empty tray and bag of coins. Item price varies in number of coins.
Also visit Ikseon-dong it's a "hot place" now with many cafes, food, and traditional atmosphere.
Sep 15, 2018, 8:40 pm
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
If you TRULY have genuine interest in the war and DMZ, go. If you just want the "oooh ahhh scary North Korea" stuff, skip it without JSA. The tunnel is literally just a tunnel you walk down and then have to walk all the way back up. The observatory and viewing area is cool, but it's still just simple Korean countryside. There's no "security theater."
I always recommend Tongin Market Lunchbox Cafe to try all the different kimchis and side dishes (don't eat like fried chicken and basic street food here). At other markets you have to buy a large quantity so the Lunchbox Cafe is ideal....can pick what you want. Get an empty tray and bag of coins. Item price varies in number of coins.
Also visit Ikseon-dong it's a "hot place" now with many cafes, food, and traditional atmosphere.
I always recommend Tongin Market Lunchbox Cafe to try all the different kimchis and side dishes (don't eat like fried chicken and basic street food here). At other markets you have to buy a large quantity so the Lunchbox Cafe is ideal....can pick what you want. Get an empty tray and bag of coins. Item price varies in number of coins.
Also visit Ikseon-dong it's a "hot place" now with many cafes, food, and traditional atmosphere.
Sep 16, 2018, 4:38 am
#57
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,353
Yeah if you're tall, it'd be annoying. But I'm 5'11" and don't really remember a feeling of neck pain or squatting haha. Just that it was waaaaaaaaaay longer coming back up.
Jul 30, 2022, 12:14 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 10
Any updates on when tours to the JSA/Panmunjom will again be offered? And who will be able to provide these tours?
??? ?? | Panmunjom Tour currently just says:
Foreign touristsTour program for Foreigners is currently not under operation.
The program is expected to be organized in the future through coordination with related agencies.
??? ?? | Panmunjom Tour currently just says:
Domestic tourists
Tourists with Korean citizenship may apply for the Panmunjom Tour through our Korean websiteForeign touristsTour program for Foreigners is currently not under operation.
The program is expected to be organized in the future through coordination with related agencies.
Aug 1, 2022, 12:28 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,353
Any updates on when tours to the JSA/Panmunjom will again be offered? And who will be able to provide these tours?
??? ?? | Panmunjom Tour currently just says:
Foreign touristsTour program for Foreigners is currently not under operation.
The program is expected to be organized in the future through coordination with related agencies.
??? ?? | Panmunjom Tour currently just says:
Domestic tourists
Tourists with Korean citizenship may apply for the Panmunjom Tour through our Korean websiteForeign touristsTour program for Foreigners is currently not under operation.
The program is expected to be organized in the future through coordination with related agencies.
Oct 4, 2022, 2:48 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: ua mm, aa plat, starriott LTPP, ihg plat, hh gold.
Posts: 13,017
any updates on the opening of the JSA? without getting to 'step foot into North Korea,' I'm not sure it's worth a trip just to see the DMZ. thoughts?
aside, and OT, mikesaidyes, your posts in this forum are invaluable. thanks.
aside, and OT, mikesaidyes, your posts in this forum are invaluable. thanks.
