Military area

Civilian Control Zone (north of the Civilian Control Line)

Military area · South Korea

Other zones: South Korea Check a route

In short

For visitors: permit required.

No boundary — routes will not see this zone
Checked against the act on 21 October 2026
Local name: 민간인통제선 이북지역 (통제보호구역)

Who may enter, and with what

Rules by group of people, as the source states them, with dates. We give no assessments of our own.

Everyone — permit required. Entry north of the Civilian Control Line (within 10 km of the Military Demarcation Line) requires permission from the local military unit commander. Visitors can only go on organised visits: the Paju DMZ tour from Imjingak (foreigners need a passport), the Goseong Unification Observatory after registering at the checkpoint, and DMZ Peace Trail routes (Korean nationals only).Issued by: Commander of the military unit responsible for the sector (관할부대장 / 주둔지부대장); for residence and farm work — through the 읍·면·동 administration · Processing time: Enforcement Decree: the commander decides and notifies the applicant «without delay» (지체 없이); no time limit in days · Fee: Not stated in the actExceptions: Paju: «DMZ 평화관광» (3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Dorasan Station) — only by organised tour/shuttle from Imjingak; tickets are sold only on arrival at Imjingak; ID is mandatory: Korean citizens — ID card, driving licence or passport; foreigners — passport, alien registration card (ARC) or US military ID; photos/screenshots are not accepted, nor a passport with an expired stay. Booking — dmz.paju.go.kr. Closed on Mondays, weekday holidays, Seollal and Chuseok (tour.paju.go.kr).; Goseong (Gangwon): Unification Observatory (고성 통일전망대) — mandatory entry registration at the 출입신고소 office on the way (personal and vehicle details); after approval — ticket purchase and an assigned entry time; ID may be requested (gwgs.go.kr). Adult ticket KRW 3 000, parking KRW 5 000–6 000.; «DMZ 평화의 길» (DMZ Peace Trail), 12 themed routes in Ganghwa, Gimpo, Goyang, Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje and Goseong: 17.04–30.11.2026, except July–August; advance online application at dmzwalk.com or in the «두루누비» app; Korean citizens ONLY, with identity verification; KRW 10 000 per person (korea.kr, 01.04.2026).; Enforcement Decree, Art. 8(6)1: on access roads (통행로) designated by the Ministry of Defence or the commander to settlements and security-tourism sites inside the CCZ, no permission under Art. 9 is needed.
Original wording
누구든지 보호구역 안에서 … 출입 … 하여서는 아니 된다. 다만 … 미리 관할부대장등 … 의 허가를 받은 자에 대하여는 그러하지 아니하다.
Korea Law Information Center (law.go.kr) — Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act, Art. 9 · as of 17 July 2024 · checked 21 October 2026

Legal basis

Open the text

Questions

Permits and restricted zones — FAQ

Do you need a permit: Civilian Control Zone (north of the Civilian Control Line)?

For visitors: permit required. Entry north of the Civilian Control Line (within 10 km of the Military Demarcation Line) requires permission from the local military unit commander. Visitors can only go on organised visits: the Paju DMZ tour from Imjingak (foreigners need a passport), the Goseong Unification Observatory after registering at the checkpoint, and DMZ Peace Trail routes (Korean nationals only).

Where do I get the permit?

Issued by: Commander of the military unit responsible for the sector (관할부대장 / 주둔지부대장); for residence and farm work — through the 읍·면·동 administration. The link to the official application page is in the rule above.

Will the planner see this zone on my route?

No: we have no boundary for this zone, so the planner cannot see it. Check your route against the rule above.

Other zones: South Korea

Korean Demilitarized Zone (southern half)

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