We are currently halfway through this study abroad experience. Today, we woke up and left the hotel really early at around 6:30am. We first arrived at the Imjingak Peace Park where we saw the Peace Bell. It was built to symbolize peace of the human race and national unification. We also saw a locomotive that was originally broken down near Jangdan station but it was then moved to Imjingak. Just one look and it is clear that there is a tragic history associated with it. It was riddled with bullet holes all throughout and covered with rust.
We then got on the bus to the third tunnel. North Korea dug 4 tunnels all leading to Seoul with a plan of attack. It was eventually discovered in 1978. The tunnel down to the actual third tunnel was very steep. The ceiling of the third tunnel was pretty low, so for those who were taller, they had to make sure that they did not accidentally hit their head. It was cold in the tunnel and droplets of water would fall from the ceiling. There was also an area where they was a constant stream of spring water that originates from the tunnel. Since the discovery of the area, air ventilation was added to help make it easier to breathe down there.
After we went back up the tunnel, we went to the Dora Observatory. At the top floor of the observatory, we got to see the border between North and South Korea from a far vantage point. There were also binoculars there to look through. When looking through, I could see the North Korean flag and people walking around in the streets.
Overall, it was an unique and rare opportunity to see the history behind the Korean War and the conflict between the two sides that still exists to this day.