Bridge of Freedom — Attraction in Paju-si

Paju’s Imjingak Park was established in 1972 to give consolation to homesick refugees who had fled North Korea during the Korean War (1950-1953). It represents the hope of future reunification. It rests on the banks of the Imjingang River, just south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Each year, the Imjingak Park hosts unification events, including the Peace Bicycle Tour and the 300-kilometer DMZ Peace and Unification Walkthrough. Twice a day from Tuesday to Friday, the DMZ Train runs from Imjingang Station to Dorasan Station, the closest train station to the inter-Korean border. During the Chuseok and Seollal Lunar New Year’s Day holidays, people who are originally from North Korea come here to pray with yearning hearts, facing their homeland and their families left behind.

As a border city between the two Koreas, Paju is a symbol of the painful division and of the war itself. Since the Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuri Park opened in 2005, the city has embraced its past and reinvented itself as a place of reconciliation and harmony. In the past, Hwang Hui (1363-1452), a Joseon prime minister, and the respected Confucian scholar Yulgok Yi I (1536-1584) spent their later years in Paju and enjoyed the natural beauty of the area. Today, Paju is a center of art, with galleries and book cafes...

More than just a bridge, but a very significant border landmark in history for the 2 Koreas. This is where POWs were exchanged between the North And South. The stories from the locals here are overwhelming and would give you a lump in your throat. Families displaced and separated, at either side of one the world's heaviest militarised borders, never to re-connect. There are hundreds of ribbons tied to the border fence here, containing messages to loved ones lost in the war or trapped on the other side. This bridge was part of the rail link between the North and South, and was partially dismantled when the country split. You can pay a little bit extra to go to the end of the bridge. There is a beautiful view of the lush green landscape below and a sneak peek between the trees, of the North Korean hills in the distance. There is a derailed locomotive that used to serve the line here. Also in the area, is the DMZ cultural centre, Unification Village, Hall of Abductees, a museum, and various war memorials. You can really learn a huge amount of history in this area of the DMZ and should make the most of it on your tour. A very solemn but super interesting...

The Bridge of Freedom (자유의 다리) is a historically significant yet understated site within Korea's DMZ, serving as a powerful symbol of division and hope. This unassuming wooden bridge was the crossing point for thousands of POWs and soldiers returning to South Korea after the 1953 armistice, earning its poignant name. Today, visitors can walk a short section of the bridge, now lined with colorful ribbons carrying messages of reunification wishes. While small compared to other DMZ attractions, its emotional weight is profound—standing here, you can almost feel the echoes of wartime separation and longing for peace. The nearby Dorasan Station and informational plaques add context. A quiet but deeply moving stop on DMZ tours, best appreciated with a guide’s storytelling. Note: Photography is allowed, but the atmosphere...