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How Do I Book A USO DMZ Tour?

There are many tour groups for you to choose from that charge different prices, but the one of the best known and most popular ways to visit the DMZ is with the United Service Organizations (USO).

The USO DMZ tour can be booked by visiting the Koridoor website at http://www.usodmz.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=dmz_tour . Koridoor is an official affiliate of the USO. Click on Schedule & Bookings at the top left when you are ready to choose a date.

Tours can sell out quickly on weekends and in the summer, so try to book as far in advance as possible. The tour schedule, including dates and times, can be viewed on the Koridoor website.

Read more about the USO DMZ Tour .

Last Updated on Dec 28, 2021

DMZ – the Deadly Line Dividing Korea

Panmunjom - jsa.

Their faces are stern and unflinching, eyes hidden behind sunglasses, standing rigid in a martial arts stance.

These soldiers watch over the southern border zone.

The Demilitarized Zone is a 4 kilometer-wide no-man’s-land of woodlands, slicing the Korean peninsula in half.

Guarding this split are landmines, surveillance cameras, watchtowers and barbed wire.

And while the Demilitarized Zone must not hold any serious weaponry, enormous armies and killing machines await easily within reach. Yeah, the DMZ of Korea is perpetually the tensest border on the planet.

Best DMZ tours are the USO tour from Seoul

Actually, it’s the only option.

This is the DMZ Tour Package for Foreigners.

They take you by tour bus into the JSA, or the Joint Security Area, at Panmunjom inside the Zone.

[ SEE INFO BELOW current as of 2022 ]

Both sides administer this area, where views of the North are clear and where the tensions are only metres away.

My visit to the Demilitarized Zone occurred a week after North Korea’s first-ever nuclear test (in 2006), and so the guiding officer spoke of the ‘heightened tension’.

They created the Demilitarized Zone after the Korean War

A ceasefire happened in 1953, yet there’s never been a permanent peace agreement signed.

Over the years, many hostile acts have erupted, mostly started by the North.

Despite the ongoing aggravation, reunification of the peninsula is a stated goal of both Koreas.

Inside the JSA Meeting Room, the US army guide told us if we sat on the official chairs, we would be “physically removed.”

Likewise, if we dashed across to the North, he or the ROK guards would stop us.

So “don’t embarrass yourselves,” were his warning words.

But like, would anyone in this group really defect to the North?

Back in the 1970s – during the Cold War – North Korea had prepared tunnels thru solid rock to attack Seoul (inspired by successful Viet-Cong tactics).

These tunnels were discovered and never used.

The North had painted the walls with coal, claiming the tunnels were for mining. But science proved this false.

According to military assessments, it’s thought one tunnel could’ve surged 30,000 troops and artillery towards Seoul within an hour of hostilities.

The USO DMZ Tour takes 100 people per visit, only

However, you can’t just stroll around or point your camera anywhere.

In fact, very little walking in the DMZ is allowed.

An army jeep escorted the tour buses from the JSA to other points of interest, including an observation point, where we marveled at a vista of North Korea (below).

Note: the giant flag pole – 160 metres tall to out-do the South’s village flag-pole standing at 100 metres.

The North’s flag is visible when a good wind catches it.

It’s 30 meters long and one of the world’s biggest – and needs to be replaced every 3 months, because of wear and tear, according to the guide.

In 2017, I visited the DMZ from North Korea . On the roof terrace of that stern concrete building, I looked over to where I posed this shot in South Korea in 2006.

Taking the USO DMZ Panmunjom Tour

– CHECK FOR LATEST INFO –

First, you can NOT just rock up to the DMZ at Panmunjon.

There was only one choice using USO when I visited, but now it seems there are more choices.

You will need to make an advance tour reservation.

Try the USO reservation here . Or book here at Koridoor .

There are two USO tours available, but I suggest taking the longer, fuller-featured option. I did.

• USO Tours run on Tuesday to Saturday, inclusive, except on national holidays.
• The price of the full-day USO Korea DMZ Tour is $92
• Tour duration: 7:30 – 15:30.
• There is a lunch stop mid-tour, but this cost is NOT included.

Departure Point: You will need to be at the KORIDOOR office in Yongshan before 7:30. Get there by subway.

Getting there by Subway:

• SAM GAK JI (삼각지) Station – line #4 and #6 : Way out to Exit No. 10 and walk straight about 500 Meters (8 mins) to “SeoJo Building” KORIDOOR Tour office on the 1st floor.
• NAM YOUNG (남영) Station – line # 1 : Way out to Exit No. 1 to the right and walk about 100 Meters (3 mins) to intersection, then turn right and walk about 120 Meters to “SeoJo Building” KORIDOOR Tour office on the 1st floor.

(Info from Koridoor.co.kr – and check this link for taxi directions AND a walking map of the area):

DMZ Korea Tour – Travel Tips

YOU MUST TAKE YOUR PASSPORT.

You must not to speak, gesture, approach, or respond to the North Korea guards.

Wear boots/shoes if doing the tunnel visit.

It’s all very controlled – so listen to the escort soldiers and don’t wander far – or else. The time for each stop is often short/rushed.

THINGS CHANGE:

There may now also be restrictions on visiting the cut tree / axe murder site and the Bridge of No Return because of disagreements with the north. When I visited these sights, they were only accessible from the bus window, anyhow.

The JSA tour has changed from an open spot (always-on tourist destination to a border military zone). Therefore, unlike the pre-booking system, confirmation is daily, and it’s done one day prior to the tour date.

Travels in South Korea – 2006

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Marilyn Monroe’s Sensational USO Tour in South Korea

Feb 25, 2014 By vilvintage in 1950s , Cinema , History , Real Life , Video , Vintage 4 Comments Tags: army , Marilyn Monroe , South Korea , troops , USO

In February 1954 Marilyn Monroe travelled to South Korea to entertain the troops. She performed a quickly thrown-together show titled ‘Anything Goes’ to audiences which totalled over 100,000 troops over 4 days.

She flew to Korea during her honeymoon in Japan with husband Joe DiMaggio. The baseball star was said to be annoyed by the fact that more fans turned out to see Marilyn in Japan than to see him and he refused to join her in Korea.   Even at this early stage in their marriage the cracks were starting to show and they divorced later that year.

Despite any friction that her visit to entertain the troops caused Marilyn remarked that the USO tour “was the best thing that ever happened to me. I never felt like a star before in my heart. It was so wonderful to look down and see a fellow smiling at me.”

In one show where the start was delayed the troops got frustrated and threatened to riot so the opening acts had to be cancelled to get her onto the stage sooner. If you take a look at the videos below you can see the reaction she gets from the crowd. They adored her, and with good reason. She looks as amazing in a baggy army uniform as she did in her fabulous wiggle dresses!

You can see her military ID card for this tour here with the name Norma-Jeane Di Maggio

Marilyn Monroe appearing with the USO Camp Show, “Anything Goes,” poses for the shutterbugs after a performance at the 3d U.S. Infantry Division area. Feb. 17, 1954

Marilyn Monroe greets the troops during her Korea USO tour.

Marilyn Monroe appears onstage entertaining troops on her USO tour through Korea in 1954.

Image source 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , and copyright: This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code .

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I enjoyed seeing these photos of Marilyn. She looks so pretty and happy in them. I’ve always thought it was great when celebrities visit the troops overseas.

I WAS THERE WHEN SHE ARRIVED. FEB. 1954!!!

I own an L-17 that flew Marilyn 2/17/1954 would like any info or pictures.

My father was part of the Helicopter crew that flew Marilyn around to her USO performances. He still has a few photos.

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