Three months ago, all anyone could talk about, read about and watch was North Korea’s escalated missile testing. It was shocking, and everyone was holding their breath to see how the United States and the world would react. In the meantime, the world still turned, and I still had a trip to Seoul, South Korea, to plan. 

My mother was beside herself that I would put myself in such danger. I rolled my eyes and said she needed to get over it, that business still goes on and nothing is going to happen. As it happened, my trip was a great success, and the people of Seoul were calm and dismissive of the North. 

I had an afternoon free from meetings, and I decided to give my mom another heart attack and sign up for a guided tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The Lotte Hotel helped me set this up very easily, and I was surprised how commercialized this tour was. Our tour guide advised us to keep our passports handy due to the security checkpoints.

The tour took us to several commercial areas where we were encouraged to shop, but there were three stops that really brought it home. 

The first was the Freedom Bridge. The bridge once connected North and South Korea and was used for the army and POWs to come back from war. It has long been closed and is destroyed, but the monuments are still there to preserve memories of loved ones. They even had an original part of the train that shows the hundreds of bullet holes that showered it when it crossed the bridge. 

The second spot was the “lookout” spot where you can use binoculars to see into the DMZ and into North Korea. Looking into North Korea was interesting, but you mostly saw small buildings and roads. However, from the lookout, you were able to see the DMZ, which has become a sort of nature preserve. Because this 2.5 mile-wide, 160 mile-long area is restricted from use, the area has flourished with flowers and wildlife. South Korea seemed almost in awe of this, and I could not agree more. The idea that something so beautiful and pure can come out of this zone gives hope. 

To close the deal on giving my mom a heart attack, the tour drew us into the Third Tunnel. The tunnel was discovered in October 1978 from a tip by a North Korean defector. It is about 1,600 meters long and about 1,150 feet below ground. Camera’s aren’t allowed, but I was able to find a rogue who took a picture during our decent. The tunnel shaft is a pretty steep decline, and you work up a sweat coming back up since there are no stairs or elevators. After 20 minutes of walking, the tunnel ended with a large door and barbed wire. Our tour guide advised that after two more security doors, you are officially in the DMZ.

It was a great experience, and I suggest taking a tour if you travel to South Korea.

— Carly Allen, vice president