Joint Security Area (Panmunjom)
판문점 공동경비구역
The only place on the Korea–DMZ line where soldiers from both sides stand face to face. The blue conference room and the military demarcation line are the most direct sights of the Cold War.
The Joint Security Area (JSA) is located in Panmunjom, Paju, near the site where the 1953 Armistice Agreement was signed. It is an area jointly administered by UN Command and North Korea. The blue Military Armistice Commission conference room straddles the military demarcation line, with the South's Freedom House and the North's Panmungak facing each other across it. In July 2023, a US soldier crossed the border during a tour, and visits were suspended. Since 2025, the South Korean side has partially reopened on a limited basis, but there are very few spots. Foreign visitors can usually only join tours run by a handful of designated travel agencies, with just a few groups per month, and the conference room is often closed. Visits require advance passport registration and compliance with dress and photography rules. Independent travel is not permitted. Tours are often combined with Imjingak and the Third Tunnel, and the trip from Seoul takes about one hour by car. Confirm the latest opening status with your travel agency before you depart.
Opening hours
Group visits by reservation only; dates announced by travel agencies and management
Nearby sights
- Imjingak & DMZ
- Heyri Art Valley
- Eunpyeong Hanok Village & Jingwansa
- Bukhansan National Park
- Haneul Park
- Mangwon Market
- Inwangsan & Seoul City Wall
- Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong