Danielle Alio

Day six and seven of my mission trip with Maryknoll to Asia was traveling to Seoul, Korea, meeting the wonderful Maryknoll priests who live at the house and doing some site seeing.

Today was a very interesting and a once in a life time experience. We took a tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Seoul is only a little more then an hour away from the DMZ so it did not take long to get there. We learned that Seoul is within artilary range of the North which gave me a chilling feeling that I would continue to get as the day progressed.

First, we needed to be in a proper dress code such as business casual, nothing revealing, closed-toed shoes, etc. Someone made the comment on the bus to the DMZ checkpoint that the reason you can’t wear flipflops or sandals is because you will need to take off running if there was a sudden outburst of gun fire. Hearing this, eventhough some in the bus were giggling, made me feel very uneasy and wonder why we are allowed to go to this place if such danger could happen at any moment.

 There is a lof of tension between the North and South and the DMZ is a sacred place full of Korean history that led to the armistice agreement signed in 1953. The agreement ended the battles of the Korean War but peace seems to be far away and possible unification even further.

The first place we visited is known as the 3rd Tunnel. The tunnel (dug under the DMZ) was discovered on October 17, 1978  and it is located about 52km from Seoul. It is said there are a number of tunnels that were built with the goal of using them as a way to start an invasion. The tunnel wasn’t very large but 10,000 soldiers could move through it in an hour. It was a very eerie feeling being in the tunnel especially because there are explosives. Luckily, half of it was colapsed so it really can’t be used by anyone.

The other stops on the tour included Imjingak Park, the Dora Observatory, and Dorasan Station. At Imjingak, we were able to walk the Freedom Bridge which was built to free over 12,000 POWs in 1953. From the Dora Observatory we were able to see parts of South and North Korea such as each of their flags, a propaganda village, the third largest city in North Korea (Geaseong) , and of course the line of demarkation (the border). The Dorasan station is what hopes to be the future for Korea whether the countries are unified or they both form good relations with one another. Built in 2002, it is the last train station in the south before you enter the north. It is hoped that one day it will be able to be used as good, peaceful transportation between the north and the south.

Then came in my opinion, the scariest part of the tour, our visit to Panmunjeom. After passing check a few checkpoints and being breifed about the area, we were walked to joint security area (JSA) where the UN and North Korea patrol. The border line between the North and the South is represented by a small cement strip right there in front of us. It is amazing to see. Both sides used to be able to cross the border freely in the JSA area and interact but because of the axe murder incident of 1976 which resulted in a few deaths, neither side can cross to the other.

We were able to enter a small building in the JSA for exactly two minutes. This building is where the armistice agreement was signed in 1953. The borderline between the North and the South is visible on a wooden table where both sides met. Believe it or not, at that moment inside the small room we were allowed to cross the border into North Korea. North Koreans, who take DMZ tours on their side are allowed to cross in the small room as well but neither side can be in the room at the same time.

I could not believe I was standing in a small part of North Korea. It seemed unreal and it’s still sinking in. I felt nervous because one never knows what may happen. The real chills came when we left the small room and stood on a set of steps facing the North for another two minutes. Miliary from the North were watching us from afar with binoculars. I felt uneasy and very nervous at this moment and still couldn’t believe I was standing there. There I was between two different countries who were once one nation. I couldn’t help but think of all of the history this place holds for both sides, their citizens and the world in general.

After our time was up, we drove past what is called the Bridge of No Return which was another place right on the north and south border where POWs were exchanged after the armistice. Once one crossed the bridge, it was for good and no turning back. It was shut down in 1976.

It’s so hard to describe what I felt at the DMZ. There were so many feelings running through me and it all happened very fast. I’m just really starting to process this trip in my mind. It is a place you visit once and more then likely never again. The one thing I think is hoped for by many is a peaceful unification of the north and south. If unification can not happen, then many pray that the two countries will start to coexist with one another in total peace.

Tomorrow is my last full day in Asia. I can not express what this trip has done for me. To see pictures and read what some of the others I am traveling with have to say, visit the Explore My Mission Blog.