DMZ

I haven’t written for awhile, mostly because I’m lazy and the trip is almost over, but at the request of 3 feminine entities, I decided to write some shit about stuff and things, starting with the DMZ.

So two weeks ago, our professor came to Korea to take us to the DMZ, the demilitarized zone which is the border between North Korea and South Korea. Yes, it is open to tourists, but it is much easier to go as a foreigner since apparently we aren’t a threat or something, I dunno. Woke up at 7 after the heaviest night of drinking I’ve had here. Got on the bus and my professor said I smelled like soju (whoops), and said that they don’t let people in if they smell like alcohol. I proceeded to buy some gum and chew vigorously, since it was my breathe that smelled apparently, and we continued on our guided tour. It took us to various monuments about the Korean War and thinga like that before we finally reached the actually DMZ, where we had to show our passport and be all official and stuff. They were adamant that there are only certain areas that we can take pictures due to security, blah blah blah. Anyways, we drive past a bunch of barriers and whatnot while the guide is rambling about history and important people. We get out, get oriented about what to do and what not to do in the DMZ area and then (FINALLY) go to the DMZ. We drive around and see the village which is located in the DMZ whose members get special benefits from the government so they stay there and make South Korea look good. Then we saw two flag poles, including the largest flagpole in the world, infront of their respective propaganda villages, one being actually inhabited in the South and just empty shells of building in the North. Then we finally went to the border, were North Korean and South Korean guards stare at each other:

South Korean soldier leaning forward as much as he can while staring at the North. For our protection

North Korean Soldiers protecting their country by reporting on the dangerous tourists (Source)

During this portion, we were told to only take pictures in a certain direction, no pointing or hand gestures, etc. We were then allowed in a South Korean controlled building which spanned into North Korea, so we could technically be in North Korea. There were 2 guards in there “for our protection”. After that, we drove around for awhile and looked at different sites and the “Bridge of No Return,” where once upon a time, people decided to go North or South, some never returning. Afterwards, we were driven back to Seoul then we partied with our Professor, who drank more soju than I thought possible.

So what did I think of the DMZ? Honestly, it’s like two children debating about who is better, Batman or Superman. I think that there is no way those guards above stand like that all day, leaning towards and staring diligently at North Korea. I don’t think that the guards in the building stand there all day and stare at a goddamn wall for security purposes. There’s cameras EVERYWHERE! WTF do they need to pay people to stand and stare at each other all day??? The only firearms are shitty handguns in this particular area, so if anything does happen, they would have to have hissy fits at each other first before the actual soldiers arrived. So I thought it was mostly for show, for tourists and for trying to pretend to be better than the other half. It was intense, but mostly since the tour guides and “guards” were all stringent with their rules and pretending like there were dire consequences if we pointed at the North Korean side. Afterwards though, I just thought it was all bullshit. Good to experience propaganda at its finest though.