Incheon/South Korea

5.4.2024 Incheon (Seoul)

Our excursion, which Cecilia Wigley had organized, began as soon as we were allowed to leave the ship. After passport control, thanks to the good organization, I immediately found the right one of four buses that were waiting there for our large group.

First, we crossed the impressive 21,380 m long Incheon Bridge. We had to pass a checkpoint where each of us had to show our passport to a soldier and be checked off a passenger list.

Our tour guide, a young South Korean, told us a lot about the history of his country and pointed out notable points.

After just over an hour we reached our destination, the "Demilitarized Zone", DMZ. This is a four-kilometer-wide strip that separates North and South Korea. The South Korean side is used for agriculture and the products produced there (e.g. rice and ginseng) enjoy a particularly good reputation, as the use of chemicals is not permitted in the cultivated areas there.

There are many monuments around the visitor center commemorating the victims of the Korean War and also honoring the "saviors" of South Korea, especially the UN troops who were able to repel the attack of the communist North Koreans just in time for a ceasefire agreement to establish the current border.

Next, we boarded the "Peace Gondolas," a cable car that took us across minefields closer to the actual border.

The fact that peace cannot be taken for granted was shown to us by a visit to a North Korean attack tunnel, which was one of four that was discovered in time before it could be used for a sneaky surprise attack. Our tunnel is 73 m underground and can be reached via a 0.5 km long and quite steep ramp. The actual tunnel is quite low and I kept hitting my head there; I was grateful for the helmet that we had to put on when entering. The way back up the steep ramp left me panting and sweating.

The bus then took us to a building from the roof of which you could see North Korea. Unfortunately, the view was somewhat limited by haze. One floor down, you could see the area and the border better on a model.

At around 4 p.m. we finally drove to a restaurant. There you could help yourself to a buffet of Korean dishes. I especially liked the spicy meat dishes.

After dinner, you could buy the coveted DMZ goods next door and I made plenty of "loot" there.

Despite rush hour, we were back on board in time.

In the evening we were thrilled by the Australian singer and actress Chelsea Gibb.