The Korean Demilitarized Zone runs roughly along the 38th parallel and bisects the Korean peninsula from the Yellow Sea (west) to the East Sea (east). Here’s a clear map of where the visitable parts are, and how they relate to Seoul.
Geographic facts (2026)
- Length: ~250 km / 155 mi coast to coast.
- Width: ~4 km / 2.5 mi (2 km on each side of the Military Demarcation Line).
- Surface: ~1,000 km² of restricted zone, plus the Civilian Control Zone behind it (another ~5,000 km²).
- Closest point to Seoul: 52 km north of Seoul Station (Imjingak, Paju city).
- Latitude: roughly 38° N, though the line dips and rises around it.
The visitable sites, west to east
Ganghwa Peace Observatory (west coast)
On Ganghwa Island, overlooking the Han River estuary into North Korea’s South Hwanghae Province. Rare in Seoul tours; doable as a separate half-day trip.
Imjingak / Third Tunnel / Dora Observatory (Paju)
The ‘main’ DMZ for Seoul tourism — every Seoul-based DMZ tour stops here. 11 km from the Military Demarcation Line.
JSA / Panmunjom (Tongil-ro corridor)
Special-permit tours only. The actual MDL runs through the central blue UN hut.
Cheorwon DMZ Peace Trail (centre-east)
Reached from Cheorwon town, not Seoul-based tours. Hiking-focused. Includes the rare 2nd Infiltration Tunnel access.
Goseong Unification Observatory (east coast)
Far north-east, near Sokcho beaches. Best paired with a Sokcho day trip from Seoul, not a DMZ-only itinerary.
Which sites are reachable from Seoul-based tours
| <br /> | ||
|---|---|---|
| Site | On a Seoul DMZ tour? | Alternative access |
| Ganghwa Peace Observatory | Rarely (specialty tours only) | Self-drive from Seoul, ~1h30 |
| Imjingak | Always | DMZ Train + walk |
| Third Tunnel | Always | Tour-only |
| Dora Observatory | Always | Tour-only |
| JSA / Panmunjom | On JSA-included tours only | Tour-only with USFK clearance |
| Cheorwon DMZ Peace Trail | No | Separate tour from Cheorwon town |
| Goseong Unification Observatory | No | Self-drive from Sokcho |
Where to find a reliable map
Naver Maps and Kakao Maps are far more accurate than Google Maps in South Korea — the DMZ access roads are sometimes mislabelled or missing on Google. The Korea Tourism Organization publishes an annual DMZ tourism map (free PDF on tour.go.kr).
The two Koreas in numbers
- Seoul (South Korea): pop. 9.4 million, GDP per capita ~USD 35,000.
- Kaesong (North Korea, 11 km from Dora): pop. ~340,000, formerly site of the Kaesong Industrial Region (closed 2016).
- Pyongyang (North Korea capital): 195 km from Seoul. Visible on Dora’s panel maps, but not visible on the ground.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the DMZ on a map?
Roughly along the 38th parallel, crossing the entire Korean peninsula from the Yellow Sea (west) to the East Sea (east), about 52 km north of Seoul at its closest point.
Is the DMZ on the border between North and South Korea?
Yes — it’s the buffer zone that defines the border. The actual border is the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), which runs through the centre of the DMZ.
Can I see the DMZ on Google Maps?
Partially. The civilian-accessible sites (Imjingak, Dora Observatory) show up. Roads inside the Civilian Control Zone and the DMZ itself are often missing or mislabelled. Use Naver Maps for accuracy.
How big is the DMZ?
About 1,000 square kilometres for the DMZ itself (4 km wide, 250 km long), plus the much larger Civilian Control Zone behind it. Roughly the size of Hong Kong.
Is the DMZ in North Korea or South Korea?
Both. The Military Demarcation Line runs through the middle. The 2 km on the southern side is administered by South Korea (and the UN Command for the JSA); the 2 km on the northern side by North Korea.
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