Joint Security Area, Border checkpoint at Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Joint Security Area is a checkpoint at the demilitarized zone between North Korea and South Korea, where blue conference buildings sit on a narrow strip of neutral ground. The actual border line runs through the interior of these buildings, so one part of each room technically belongs to a different nation.
This meeting point was created after the 1953 armistice agreement as a neutral place for talks between both Korean states. An incident in 1976 led to the border inside the area being more clearly defined and movement restrictions being imposed on everyone involved.
Soldiers from both Korean armies stand motionless at their posts during tours, wearing different uniforms that represent their respective nations. Visitors may not gesture, wave, or speak to personnel during the entire time inside this area.
All visits require advance booking through an authorized tour operator who handles necessary permits and security briefings. Participants must carry a valid passport and follow strict dress codes that exclude torn clothing or military-looking items.
Inside one of the blue conference rooms, a long table sits with its center precisely on the border line, dividing the space into two halves. South Korean soldiers stand partly behind this table and touch the wall with their hands to symbolically occupy both sides at the same time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
