Summit boosts interest in Korean DMZ tours
Demand for DMZ tours has increased sharply after the successful inter-Korean summit last week. / Courtesy of Cosmojin Tour
By Kang Aa-young, Jung Min-ho
More people want to tour the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the border area between the two Koreas, after the successful inter-Korean summit last week, a tour agency said.
According to a survey by Cosmojin Tour, a local online travel agency, the number of inquiries about DMZ tours has more than doubled following the meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on April 27.
“More Koreans and foreigners alike say they want to learn more about the relationship and history of the two Koreas, which has boosted the demand for touring areas such as the DMZ and the Joint Security Area,” the agency said.
As tensions between two Koreas subsided, the number of people who signed up for a DMZ tour has jumped. In comparison with the same period last year, it is about 10 percent higher. The agency said it expects more tourists in the coming months.
People can only visit the DMZ through guided tours. They also can get a chance to look around Panmunjeom, the summit's location.