Private DMZ Tour with Defector

Join a private DMZ tour with a North Korean defector. Savor authentic North Korean cuisine and hear captivating stories. Book now for a unique experience.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 46-12 - North Korean Local Food Restaurant (Operated by North Korean defector)
    Experience lunch at a North Korean cuisine restaurant run by a real North Korean defector woman. This restaurant, one of the few in Korea, offers at least four authentic N Korean dishes. For instance, “Artificial Meat Rice” is one of the most famous dishes in North…
What's Included
  • All admission fees
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Travel insurance
  • Hotel Drop off
Additional Information

This tour is the only one led by an English-speaking North Korean defector. Through Jun, who arrived in South Korea in 2017, you’ll experience contrasting historical perspectives of the Korean Peninsula and gain a deeper cultural and political understanding of North Korea than any other tour can offer.
Moreover, only on this tour can you experience…

Location
Hapjeong Station
Hapjeong Station(line 2, line 6)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(41 Ratings)
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Kathryn_p
Oct 6, 2024
A must do whilst in Seoul! - An incredibly humbling, insightful and fascinating tour that was a highlight of my trip and the best tour I have ever been on. Jun is so generous with his story, sharing first hand insights of his life. This tour gives you perspective and knowledge I don't know how else you could possibly achieve. This is an authentic, unique look at North & South Korea and the DMZ. Presented alongside the current & historical context of this area, not just a bus tour to souvenir shops! The tour starts with lunch, which was vegetarian friendly and absolutely delicious, as well as wonderful to experience first hand. I went solo, and was slightly nervous but I shouldn't have been as I was made to feel welcome from the beginning and, despite the difficult subject matter, our group had lots of laughs throughout the day. Jun was very accomodating with all our questions and particular interests. Couldn't recommend this trip any higher. Just book!
Review provided by Viator
Molly_m
Oct 5, 2024
Unforgettable - Very glad I booked this tour! There were 6 of us total in a comfortable van with lots of time to talk with Jun throughout the day. Loved the North Korean lunch and hearing about Jun’s experiences both in and out of North Korea. My closest friends are from Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, and Russia (I’m from the US), and what Jun talked about - the psychology, the politics, the propaganda, the wariness of one’s surroundings and people even after escaping - was very similar to what they’ve shared. Very realistic and down-to-earth; I’m still turning over the day in my mind days later. Worth the price for sure! Just a note - please leave your streaming supplies at home if you book this tour. Can’t believe it has to be said, but there were two friendly but obnoxious streamers who live-streamed the experience almost non-stop and it was incredibly annoying.
Review provided by Viator
Cosmopolitan292953
Oct 1, 2024
Thoughtful - A remarkably thoughtful and thought-provoking tour of the DMZ area. Jun was an incredible storyteller and host, and was extremely kind and open about sharing his life and perspective with us, which can’t always be easy to do. I’m grateful to have had the chance to hear from him and found this tour both educational and moving.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_s
Sep 24, 2024
Unforgettable. - Incredible tour. My husband and I have done many tours throughout our lives and agreed that this was the most valuable, formative, unforgettable tour we've ever done. Jun gave us a unique and personal perspective on North Korea that you would not be able to get with a South Korean guide. His perspective on the DMZ was also eye-opening. Jun needs to get a book deal. I cannot properly express how amazing this experience was.
Review provided by Viator
Cherie_t
Sep 23, 2024
Profound, informative and thoroughly interesting - This tour was a highlight of my whole holiday! Jun is an incredible guide, who so generously shares his stories, experiences and perspectives. The day was incredibly informative, interesting and a once in a lifetime opportunity to get hear firsthand accounts of a life that is so drastically different from most.
Review provided by Viator
388brookeo
Sep 15, 2024
Have to book if you go to the DMZ - Jun is so incredibly insightful and his story is harrowing. I learned so much and I liked his opinion on how things are at the DMZ zone. I felt like the DMZ is an odd place and it doesn’t seem like it is as respectful as it could be. With Jun’s tour, I felt like I got to know the real story and the difference of seeing the story behind the DMZ instead of it just being an “attraction”. We also had North Korean food which was extremely good!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scottybower
Sep 12, 2024
The real deal. Hear first hand about life in N. Korea. - Superb guide and such an interesting and unique perspective, the north Korean food was a superb bonus. Highly recommended 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dianemac2016
Sep 11, 2024
Excellent and Informative Tour - This was, without a doubt, the most compelling trip I have ever been on. After reading several books on NK defectors, it was an amazing experience to meet Jun. Jun’s story was told very openly and you could not fail to be touched by it. After picking my husband and I up at our hotel, Jun took us to a NK restaurant for a typical NK meal; which we thoroughly enjoyed. We then went to the Observatory where you could see NK across the bay. Not only could you see it but the N Koreans had loud speakers blaring with noise to block out any noise coming from the South. We then went to the DMZ area where we saw the damaged train and the railway bridge and the statutes of the comfort women, which in itself was very sad. One of the things which puzzled us was the fact there is an amusement park on the S Korean side of the DMZ which was busy the day we were there due to a pop concert being held next to the DMZ. It was sad to think that perhaps 3 miles away in NK people were starving while S Koreans were enjoying themselves on amusement rides and thousands more attending a pop concert. I would highly recommend this tour which you will never forget.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daytrip11358594170
Sep 3, 2024
Amazing experience through the DMZ - What an amazing experience with Jun. not only we got to see the DMZ but we got to understand what it means to live in North Korea and the journey as a defector. It was so insightful and such a great experience to hear all about it! That is the proper way to do a DMZ
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah_l
Sep 2, 2024
Fantastic tour - An extremely worthwhile tour. Jun is very open & brave in sharing his story. Don't think twice - do this tour over the standard DMZ experience. It's interesting & informative & was a really memorable part of our visit to Korea.
Review provided by Viator
From $120
up to 4 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).