Military area

Korean Demilitarized Zone (southern half)

Military area · South Korea

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In short

For visitors: entry prohibited.

Boundary area — 421 km²
Checked against the act on 21 October 2026
Local name: 비무장지대 (DMZ, 군사분계선 이남)

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 — entry prohibited. Entry to the Demilitarized Zone (2 km south of the Military Demarcation Line) is prohibited except for persons specifically authorised by the United Nations Command. Visitors can only enter on organised tours approved by the UNC (e.g. Panmunjom), when these are running.Issued by: Military Armistice Commission / UNCMAC (United Nations Command)Exceptions: Persons specifically authorised by the Military Armistice Commission (in practice — UNCMAC approval): JSA/Panmunjom tours (organised on the ROK side by the Ministry of Unification, panmuntour.go.kr; tour status for 2026 not officially confirmed), some DMZ Peace Trail sections to posts at the southern edge of the DMZ — per media reports, not officially confirmed.; Civil administration and relief personnel in the southern DMZ (Art. I paras 9–10), including residents of Daeseong-dong village.
Original wording
No person, military or civilian, shall be permitted to enter the Demilitarized Zone except persons concerned with the conduct of civil administration and relief and persons specifically authorized …
Korean Armistice Agreement, Art. I para 9 (UN Security Council doc. S/3079, documents.un.org) · as of 27 July 1953 · checked 21 October 2026

Legal basis

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Questions

Permits and restricted zones — FAQ

Do you need a permit: Korean Demilitarized Zone (southern half)?

For visitors: entry prohibited. Entry to the Demilitarized Zone (2 km south of the Military Demarcation Line) is prohibited except for persons specifically authorised by the United Nations Command. Visitors can only enter on organised tours approved by the UNC (e.g. Panmunjom), when these are running.

Where do I get the permit?

Issued by: Military Armistice Commission / UNCMAC (United Nations Command). The link to the official application page is in the rule above.

Will the planner see this zone on my route?

Yes: the zone has a boundary, and the trip plan will show a line if the route or an overnight stop falls inside.

Other zones: South Korea

Civilian Control Zone (north of the Civilian Control Line)

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