Demilitarized Zone - Facts & Summary

DMZ is the most heavily fortified border on the planet, with over a million soldiers on both sides ready to pull the triggers to each other in a matter of hours. For anyone who plans to be in South Korea on business or vacation, this place is not to be missed.

All of these refer to one spot on the Korean Peninsula that very few would ever conceive to be able to visit. Why? Because the DMZ is the most heavily fortified border on the planet, with over a million soldiers on both sides ready to pull the triggers to each other in a matter of hours. The highest concentration of firepower resides along this area in what hopefully will be the last remains of the Cold War. Now, who in their right mind would want to visit an area where more than 50 Americans, 1,000 South Koreans and countless North Koreans have died in skirmishes over the past 40 years, and is still dotted with land mines, razor wire and concrete tank bunkers? Surprisingly, a lot of us would. So, if you're looking for a little action, then this is definitely the place for you.

The DMZ is not some mere historical site where one can casually browse around at what once was. Rather, it is a mix of what was, what is, and what is to come. All along the DMZ are sites where the North and South have had confrontations in the past, while at the same time there could be confrontations at any time to come. But that is where the true excitement of visiting such a place as this lies. You know at once that you're not at some museum when you are asked to fill out release forms informing you that your visit "will entail entry into hostile area and possibility of injury of death as a direct result of enemy action." Every year, about 180,000 tourists are bused up from Seoul to spend a day in the clean air and wide-open spaces of the last remnants of the Cold War. For anyone who plans to be in South Korea on business or vacation, this place is not to be missed? it's one of the most bizarre and most fascinating places you can reach in a tour bus. Sounds fun doesn't it? Well, if you're up to the danger, and you think it's a good day, then the DMZ is a nice escape from the dull, sheltered lives that most of us lead.

PANMUNJEOM 
In the middle of the DMZ, about an hour and half bus ride to the north of Seoul is Panmunjeom or the Joint Security Area. Panmunjeom is the "truce village" where the armistice was signed in 1953 ending the Korean War and splitting the peninsula into North and South. Since then it has been the scene of on-and-off dialogue between the free South and the communist North. Almost all the tourists who come up here are foreigners because South Koreans need a special government permit to visit Panmunjeom. Many of the visitors are Americans, including some who fought in the Korean War, their families, history buffs or just backpackers trekking around Asia looking for a little counterintuitive tourism.

FREEDOM ROAD 
As soon as your tour bus leaves Seoul, you start to get the idea that things are a little different here. "Freedom Road (Jayooro)," the only way to Panmunjeom, is a major divided highway that is about 12 lanes across in some places. The median strip is massive and flat, just right for a wave of tanks and artillery to head north to repel an invasion. What are those odd little structures up on almost every hill? Yes, those are machine gun emplacements. And so are those piles of sandbags on the median strip. The road stretches along the banks of the Imjingang River, which is lined with one continuous eight-foot fence covered with razor wire and dotted with hundreds of military watch posts, all manned by a solitary soldier. The river itself is filled with nets and spikes and other obstacles to prevent North Korean soldiers or vessels from coming south. Huge lighted signs bearing Korean letter face the North Korean side of the river, touting "Freedom" and "Democracy." And at times along the way, you can hear the propaganda of both sides over the loudspeakers right next to you or far off in the distance.

Camp Bonifas Upon arrival, the bus passes a series of checkpoints, which are separated by fences and barricades that the bus must weave in and out of. Upon entering the Joint Security Area, visitors will encounter large banners and signs with the most clearest and succinct expression of the situation, "In front of them all." First stop is Camp Bonifas, a small collection of buildings surrounded by triple coils of razor wire just 440 yards south of the DMZ. If it weren't for the land minds and armed soldiers, the place might look like a big Boy Scout camp. About 5000 U.S. and South Korean soldiers live in Bonifas and other bases close to Panmunjeom. After unloading the bus, everyone is escorted to Ballinger Hall where a briefing and slide show are held to lay down the dos and don'ts of the area. Then everyone is scurried onto the JSA bus to start on the dangerous expedition.

THE BORDER 
From that point on, tourists in the DMZ are under constant guard by UN soldiers. They keep tourist from straying out of authorized areas, but mainly they are there to protect the visitors from enemy attack. They also make sure tourists take pictures only at authorized spots, as almost all photography here is banned. First along the way is the infamous one-hole golf course, which Sports Illustrated named, "one of the most dangerous gold courses in the world." Next is the scene of where it all takes place. On each side of the border is a large three-story visitors' center. Steps lead down to four blue one-story structures, which cross the borderline and are designated as the meeting place for the officials of both sides. On the side of the South, stand decoratively dressed South Korean soldiers who are also wearing sunglasses. They stand at the corners of the blue buildings, half-exposed in what is called ROK (Republic of Korea) ready position, a semi-Taekwondo stance. Their appearance is intended to intimidate the North and the reason they stand half-exposed is to have cover in case of an attack. Looking across the way, visitors will see a lone North Korean soldier standing at the doorway of "Panmungak," the North Korean visitors center directly across from the South's.

He rarely moves, only to occasionally view the tourists through a pair of binoculars. The only other visible soldier is the officer sitting next to a window within the building. He is the one responsible for alerting the whole battalion of soldiers waiting on the other side of the building in case of emergency. Along the borderline in either direction, are lookout towers every 100 meters, which do the same. There exists an atmosphere of high tension created by the military presence and the seriousness of the local personnel. But, there are times when one cannot escape the temptation of finding some humor in the whole situation. Tourists are warned not to make eye contact or gestures of any kind. If a tourist waved, a North Korean soldiers might take a photo that could easily end up in a Stalinist propaganda publication with a caption like, "Defector begs a glorious patriot from the Korean People's Army to save him from Imperialist oppression." Nobody takes this too seriously, but it's still against the rules to wave and point. This is not London where everyone tries to make the palace guards move using any means necessary. The trick is to keep a poker face: no blinking, no smiling, no flashing a quick obscene gesture, no going cross-eyed to see if you can crack his stone-cold stare. Just don't do it. God forbid one harmless motion from a tourist cause an outbreak of war.

Awaiting the tourists is an even bigger treat in that they are then escorted inside one of the blue buildings. Here, they will find sound booths on both ends with a long conference table in the middle of the room. Along the center of the table is a thick wire leading to a microphone being monitored 24 hours a day by both sides, so be careful what you say. This wire designates the international boundary between North and South and tourist are allowed to cross that border within these buildings. So not only can one see the North, they get the opportunity to stand in it.

CHECKPOINT 3 AND THE BRIDGE OF NO RETURN
Following the up close encounter with the North, the bus travels along a dusty trail to Checkpoint 3. Atop a hill, this seemingly plain shack is a favorite spot where one can see clear into North Korea itself. Kaesong, a major city in the North, is visible on a clear day along with the North Korean flagpole that stretches way up in competition to the flagpole in the South. This spot is quiet and serene and seems almost too peaceful to be so dangerous. At the bottom of the hill is the Bridge of No Return, named rightfully so because when crossed, there's not much chance that one can return in one piece. You can walk about half way across until you reach the demarcation line where a UN soldier stands to prevent you from going any further. After that, it's back to Ballinger Hall where, following a bit of souvenir shopping, the bus back to Seoul awaits.

Korean Learning Strategies

When Korea is mentioned, people may think about its well-developed economy and booming movie industry especially in love stories. No wonder millions of people across the world outside Korea wants to learn this language as a second language. Don't you think it is cool? At least some guys beside me are now learning to speak this language. How could you think about learning this language yourself this time?
Traditionally you sit in a classroom listening to our teachers to teach us things, you might as well do the same thing now. Find a Korean learning class and make sure that the teacher is qualified to instruct you Korean. Initially you had better begin with the Korean alphabet Hangul. The letters in it though largly differ from those inside the English alphabet, you can be patient to obtain each letter inside the table one by one with care. Try to pronounce each letter with the proper strength your teacher told you and repeat them for as many times as you can so that you are able to speak them properly even without thinking too much about how to pronounce each one if you talk with others. It is the similar thing to acquire Korean vocabulary. Learn each word carefully and practice them time after time. Definitely using Rosetta Stone Korean is one of the best ways to accumulate vocabulary if you can follow Rosetta Stone's steps. Rosetta Stone Korean designs the vivid pictures to teach you each Korean word. Follow it and learn your vocabulary.
When practicing spoken Korean, you can find some Korean friends and speak with them as much as you can. Usually in your vicinity you may meet such foreigners. Don't be shy, speak with them! Probably they can speak English, but you should speak Korean with them. In your classroom, you have learned many useful things. Now you should try to use what you have learned with them. When you encounter different errors, solve them at once by asking your Korean friends in front of your face. If you think you cannot learn so much substantial knowledge from them sometimes, you can still use Rosetta Stone Korean [http://www.discoverrsshop.com/rosetta-stone-korean-c-13.html] to enhance your understanding about so many things in Korean, like grammar, sentence structure and the speaking manner. Generally the Korean learners also need to accumulate culture knowledge bit by bit, for culture has so deep association with language. If you know culture more deeply, you will be able to speak this language much better.
Next I suppose the best thing for you to do is to dedicate yourself to learning this language. No matter where go, think about Korean. When you meet a shop, you should think how can address the shop in Korean; when you go to the park, meeting different things, ask yourself how to speak such things in Korean; when talking with your good friends in English, try to interpret your conversation into Korean inside your heart; when you are alone, listen to the Korean songs and speak Korean to yourself on the topics that really can make you excited. Honestly the ways for learning Korean are various. You as a learner had better choose those that really suit you and keep practicing such methods to better your Korean.

Medical Tourism in Korea

Medical tourism refers to the innovative concept of global healthcare services that can be availed by a patient, belonging to any developed or underdeveloped nation, by visiting some other country. While the majority of these sick people make such transition with a view to undergoing cost-effective medical solutions, often patients from less developed countries are found preferring big medical hubs of highly developed countries to obtain those remedial solutions, which are not available in their own country.

According to a recent medical report a great percentage of these patients visit other countries to attain health care services concerning critical health problems and surgical solutions including cardiac, cosmetic and hip or knee joint replacement surgeries. Nothing to surprise that among the leaders in medical tourism, in the last few years the progression rate of South Korea is quite noticeable specifically in the field of cosmetic surgery and restoration procedures. Apart from Asian countries, patients from across the world are found visiting the top class plastic surgeons of this country to make amazing facial changes comprising nose cosmetic or nose eye surgery or a complete makeover whilst many of them sought the services of the world-famous dentists to have a complete change of their smiling face. The most demanding medical services also include breast implants, facial contouring, hip up surgery apart from face lift and breast augmentation. Offering services like forehead lifting, liposuction surgery and physical shape surgery is not a difficult task for the top-notch South Korean surgical experts today.

Other than cosmetic surgery, the facts and figures of top medical establishments of this country show striking development in areas of medical services which are consistent, reliable and up-to-date. How such enormous development has taken place? No wonder, the highly skilled medical surgeons, dedicated remedial professionals and most organized healthcare systems and above that the brilliance of technological advancements in terms of resourceful mechanisms, revolutionary computerized surgical systems and superior medical-recording procedures are the chief contributing factors have made South Korea the top chosen destinations for the patients worldwide. Those who are longing for newest methodologies for treatment of cancer, fertility or spinal cord disorders, apart from prolonged cardiac issues or even psychiatric problems, can get in touch with the top grade accredited long term medical units of South Korea to obtain unbelievable restorative services.

A recent survey states that 2012 was a remarkable year for South Korea in terms of medical tourism, recording over 12 million visitors, and a great percentage of them have sought medical support for multiple health care services. This has motivated the government to introduce two distinct kiosks for travelers in Incheon international airport at Seoul. Out of these two units one is exclusively meant for medical tourists. As per the medical bulletin, the number of health tourists in 2012 in South Korea crosses the figure of 160,000 while the medical industry predicts that this figure will cross 400,000 by 2015. In this context, South Korea has taken up a great challenge against their nearest rivalry Thailand which is another prominent health tourism destination in the Asian sub-continent. To establish a solid medical tourism base, South Korea has chiefly focused the countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Middle East. So after reviewing the whole scenario we can say that the medical industry of South Korea is now fully geared up to appear as an international medical tourism hub in no time.

South Korea Tourism Tips

To arrange a good and memorable trip to South Korea, it is advised to read travel guides about this beautiful country, and then contact a local travel professional who may help you organize this tour in the most effective way for reasonable money.

South Korea has a lot of natural places to be observed and historical landmarks to enjoy. The country plays an important role in the protection of the heritage of world culture and natural attractions. Apart from that, it is considered a hospitable place for foreigners and a perspective tourism destination.

In the south-east of the country, one will find Bulguksa monastery and the Seokguram cave temple adjacent to it. Another noteworthy place is Temple Jongmyo, located in Seoul, where memorial tablets of the monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty are stored.



Seorak Mountain is a part of the Diamond Mountains, which is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. Hallasan mountain is the extinct volcano. Both picturesque places are loved by numerous international visitors. The city of Gyeongju is known for its Tumuli Park, Onyn Five Tombs, Chhomsonde Observatory, the tomb of General Kim Yu Sin, and Mount Namsan with the ruins of pagodas and monasteries. Gyeongju National Museum and the resort on Lake Pomun offer wonderful recreational opportunities.

Ganghwa Island in Korea is known for its historical monuments and beautiful nature. Among the main attractions of the island one should name an altar built by Tangun, the legendary founder of the nation, the fortress walls, the ancient furnace for the production of celadon built in the 13th century, and Chondynsa monastery. The beaches of the eastern coast of Korea are known for weak currents and are considered the best in Korea.



Korea will surely capture your imagination with plenty of Buddhist monasteries and temples, palaces, exquisite statues, which have ancient and rich history. Seoul is perhaps the main place for tourists, with its National Museum, the Institute of Korean classical music named Sejong Cultural Center, Hoam Center for the Arts, Namsan Tower, and Korea House. In the capital of Korea one can visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, known as The Palace of Radiant Happiness, and one of the five palaces in Seoul. The main palace was built by the founder of Joseon dynasty, King Lee Sung-Te, when the state capital was transferred to Seoul. On the palace grounds, there is the National Folk Museum with a rich exposition, which introduces you to the history, culture and traditions of Korea.



No less interesting is Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, which consists of the king's residence and Secret Garden. Built in 1405, it is the only palace that has preserved the architectural style of the Joseon Dynasty. Secret Garden is a place for entertainment of the ruling dynasty: the nature has harmoniously created its 300-year-old trees, the pond and the pavilion.

In Incheon, it will be interesting to visit the Munhaksanson castle, the Confucian school, founded in the era of Chosun, Songdo Yuvondzhi Park with two artificial lakes, a good artificial beach and various kinds of marine entertainment.

In Busan, one can see sights such as the old fortress, the biggest one in Korea, the Thedzhonde marine park, which is located on the island. Haeundae Beach is considered the most famous beach of Korea and is located not far from the city center. Tongdosa Temple is one of the largest Korean churches, which contains the relics of Buddha.

In Daegu, one can see the beautiful Temple of Haeinsa, which was founded by two monks in 802. The monastery stores Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete surviving collection of Buddhist scriptures in East Asia.

Korean Online Dating Tips

For those of you that are looking to meet Korean singles for dating, friendship, love or marriage then pay close attention I will reveal to you 3 significant advantages of going online to meet Korean singles and show you just how easy this to do.

There are many good reasons why a person shall go online seeking a date or hoping to start a new relationship with someone. But if you are specifically looking to meet Korean singles then here are 3 solid reasons why you should go online to do so.

Reason number 1 - Going online to meet someone for a date is a common practice in today's internet world. Not only is going online and using online dating services common but there are numerous dating sites to select from. Korean dating sites are only a small portion of the many dating types of sites available. There once a was a time when someone may felt awkward or out-of-place by using an online dating service to meet Korean singles but the world has changed and more people than ever are joining dating sites and meeting new people.

Reason number 2 - Many online dating services these days offer new features such as video greetings. There once was a time when joining an online dating site was so great because you could view pictures of members that you were interested in. Well if a picture is worth a thousand words than how many words is a video worth? Videos are a great way to meet someone as you not only see what they look like but you can hear their voice and get a little taste of their character as well. When joining an online dating service make sure that the site offers video greetings that you can view and also allows you to upload your own video too.

Reason number 3 - Anonymous email option, this is a great way to break the ice with someone and caption their attention. Anonymous email option may not sound like such a big deal but this little feature really helps to get people to look your way as you can give little hints on who you are building the excitement. Send someone an email and you may get a response back from them but send someone and anonymous email describing a little about yourself yet not revealing who you are and you will for sure capture their attention while making yourself more intriguing.

Here you have 3 great reasons to go online and join a dating service to meet Korean Singles for real Korean dating. Oh I almost forgot to tell the best reason of all to join an online dating service and that's because it is free to join. An online dating site will always offer a join for free option and allow you to create your own profile. This is the type of Korean dating site I recommend to try. Remember 1 out of every 5 relationships starts out online so what are you waiting for go ahead and join a dating site today.

Learn Korean Culture and Specialties

The Korean culture is fascinating and full of traditions. In this place you find comfort in peace and the harmony that brings the beauty that we now see is a fruit of what seems to be a history that is long and bitter sweet.

When WWII ended in the year 1945, Korea was divided into two and they are now known as North Korea and South Korea. The former practiced communism, the latter didn't. Another name for North Korea is Democratic People's Republic of Korea while South Korea is known as Republic of Korea which is bigger in terms of size and population. This division is the reason why the country remained at war. Until the present time, the male population is required to submit themselves to training in the army when they come to a certain age. They will serve the government this way for two years. Some men even stop schooling just because of this and pursue their education after.

The Korean language called Hangul is used by both parts of the country. There are slight differences across the nation but it is understood by everyone there. Hangul is considered to be one of the few languages that are the best and well-planned. Hangul is one of the easiest to learn too that's why Korea is one of the countries with the highest literacy rate.

In terms of religion, there are two major beliefs that are followed. One is Buddhism which is an old religion in the south but there has been a decline in the recent years due to Christianity that is becoming more popular. It spread quickly but the king before thought it was a threat so Catholics are persecuted. In the 19th century, the Protestants entered the country. Now, it is a proud address to one of the largest churches in the world.

Korean is also very rich when it comes to tradition because they preserved it very well. Just like most Asian countries, the Korean tradition is more family oriented and very conservative. Even if South Korea is keeping up with the modernization of the world, they do not lose their hold of their traditions and their way of life. Even houses in rural areas are designed in a traditional way. Their language plays a major role in keeping it this way because it includes values of their social status and also respect that comes with it. The words that you choose depend on the person you are talking to. This maintains the traditional values that make the Korean culture unique.

Learning anything Korean is a fun and rewarding experience. It enables you to learn from a very disciplined and well-mannered culture. You can always apply a thing or two from a foreign country. One of the very important things would be language for you to be able to appreciate the beauty hidden between the lines without the language barrier.

Best Popular Korean Recipes

In recent years, many people in the West have become interested in Korean foods and recipes. You can try Korean food in a restaurant, or if you prefer you could try to prepare it at home in your own kitchen.

Korean meals are usually based around noodles, rice, meat, vegetables and tofu (which is known as "dubu" in Korea). Most meals are served with a variety of side dishes ("banchane"), as well as soup, steam rice, and kimchi (fermented vegetables). Flavor is added using a range of seasonings and spices including garlic, ginger, red chili paste ("gochujang"), salt, soy sauce, and fermented soybean paste ("doenjang").



Some popular Korean dishes include:

* Kongnamul-guk - Soybean sprout soup.

* Gamjatang - A soup based on pork spine and potatoes. It usually also contains other vegetables, green onions, hot peppers and sesame seeds.

* Maeuntang - A hot and spicy fish soup.

* Jeongol - A seafood and vegetable stew.

* Hoe - Thinly slice rawfish, somewhat similar to Japanese sashimi. Usually dipped in wasabi or red chili paste ("gochujang"), and served on cellophane noodles ("dangmyeon").

* Sannakji - A raw, very fresh small octopus, seasoned and cut into pieces and served - it may still be moving on your plate!

* Ramyeon - Noodles with meat and vegetables, similar to Japanese ramen noodles.

* Kongnamul-bap - Rice with soybean sprouts.

* Japchae - Potato noodles with beef, carrots, onions and spinach.

* Kalguksu - Flat noodles in a broth.

* Yukhoe - Raw beef topped with egg yolk, and seasonedwith garlic, green onions and a variety of spices.



* Bulgogi - Meat or seafood cooked on a grill. Common varieties include chicken ("dak bulgogi"), pork ("dweji bulgogi"), and squid ("ojingeo bulgogi").

* Galbi - Grilled pork ribs.

* Dakgalbi - Grilled chicken.

* Makchang - Grilled pork intestines (similar to chitterlings).

* Samgyeopsal - Grilled pork belly. Slices of meat are placed inside lettuce with cooked rice and a spicy paste ("ssamjang"). Various accompaniments such as chillies, spring onion salad, or raw garlic dipped in ssamjang may be eaten with the dish.