Sunday, June 30, 2013

Honoring the DMZ - Dorason Station


Dorasan Station is a modern day ghost town.  From Wikipedia (link),

Dorasan Station is a railway station situated on the Gyeongui Line, which once connected North and South Korea and has now been restored. For several years the northernmost stop on the line was Dorasan Station, which is served by Tonggeun commuter trains.



On December 11, 2007, freight trains began traveling north past Dorasan Station into North Korea, taking materials to the Kaesong Industrial Region, and returning with finished goods.


However, on December 1, 2008, the North Korean government closed the border crossing, after accusing South Korea of a confrontational policy.  The station is currently served by four trains from Seoul per day for tourists.


We purchased a commemorative "ticket" for 500 won (50 cents), walked out to the platform, and greeted the incoming tourists.


Our guide pointed out the poster of President Bush's visit to Dora Station ...


... and suggested we have fun!


Should he shake from the right ... 


... or the left?


How about a pat on the back?


I chuckled at the sign because there is no other way to go. 

Next stop:  Joint Security Area.

Mahalo,

Kim in Korea




8 comments:

  1. I like the handshake part too!

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  2. Yesterday I questioned if anyone ever tried crossing back over and when I opened the news this morning there was a 70 yr. old man that did just that! He was a POW for 47 yrs. He escaped through China and was met by his step brother and home to his 94 year old father - amazing story!

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  3. Loving the history lessons.

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  4. A ghost town station. Another interesting sight to see.

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  5. Probably the cleanest railway station! Love the fun with President Bush's picture, too.

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  6. Loving all these pics of probably someplace that I will never get to visit in real life. Thanks so much for sharing them with us :)

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