Imjingak, Memorial park near DMZ in Paju, South Korea.
Imjingak is a memorial park that stretches along the Imjin River, featuring monuments, viewing platforms, and a wartime-damaged locomotive on display. The grounds offer visitors a direct view of the border region and convey the weight of what occurred there.
The park was established in 1972 to create a gathering place for families separated by the Korean division. This founding reflected the growing need to acknowledge and honor those kept apart by the border.
The Mangbaedan Altar draws visitors during New Year and Korean Thanksgiving, when people perform rituals honoring relatives across the border. These ceremonies show how family ties remain woven into the daily life of those separated by division.
Visitors need to show identification to access certain areas, including the Peace Gondola that crosses over the Imjin River. Coming in the morning when weather is clear offers the best views of the border region.
The Freedom Bridge from 1953 still stands as a symbol of prisoner exchanges after the armistice. Few visitors realize it occasionally served as a meeting point during family reunion programs.
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