Imjingak

Imjingak

Bridge of Freedom

Imjingak (임진각, pronounced Ihm-jin-gak), and sometimes in English called the Imjingak "resort", is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River in the city of Paju, South Korea. The park has many statues and monuments regarding the Korean War. There is also a restaurant, an observation deck, a pool in the shape of the Korean peninsula, and even a small amusement park.

The park was built to console those from both sides who are unable to return to their hometowns, friends and families because of the division of Korea.

Imjingak is where the "Bridge of Freedom" lies. The Freedom bridge does actually cross the Imjin river. It is a former railroad bridge which was used by repatriated POWs/soldiers returning from the north. It is more famous, however, and until 1998 was the only point of egress in the western sector other than Liberty Bridge (which was controlled by the ROK Army) onto the DMZ, and the only direct link to Camp Greaves, Liberty Bell, and Panmunjom. This is not to be confused with the "bridge of freedom" which is merely an access bridge to the main span that allowed the one way southbound traffic to pass by while northbound traffic stood waiting its turn to cross; it now crosses a stream adjacent to the Imjin river and connects with the North-South railway.

Mangbaeddan

Mangbaedda

Mangbaeddan enables displaced people whose hometowns are located within North Korea to bow down to their parents or family in North Korea as a sign of respect during cultural events such as New Years and Chuseok (Korean Mid Autumn Festival, usually entails paying respect to your elders and ancestors). This memorial holds many sorrowful memories of separated families during the Korean War

Public transportation

Railroad 10 minute walk from Imjingak Station of Gyeongui Line (For an admission of Dorasan Station, tourists must pass through a separate procedure.)

Bus

1. 058(Munsan↔Majeong) 5 minute walk from Imjingak Resort
2. 909(Munsan↔Seoul Station) Get off at Munsan Terminal → Transfer to #058 bus → Get off at Imjingak Resort. 5 minute walk
3. 9710(Munsan↔Myeong-dong-ip-gu) Get off at Munsan Terminal → Transfer to #058 bus → Get off at Imjingak Resort. 5 minute walk

Car Seoul Station → Yeonsinnae → Gupabal → Gwansan-dong → Munsan → Imjingak (last point of National Road No. 1) Jayuro → MunsanI.C → Imjingak^[1]

References

1. http://en.paju.go.kr/. http://en.paju.go.kr/ http://en.paju.go.kr/en/en_culture/en_peace/en_peace_imjingak/en_peace_imjingak.cms. Retrieved 29 November 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help); External link in |website=, |publisher= (help)

External links

• Photographs of the park

Coordinates: 37°53′23″N 126°44′24″E / 37.8896°N 126.7401°E