Peeking into North Korea

November 25, 2010                                         

As of this writing, the tension between the two Koreas remains high. It was last Tuesday when North Korea shelled the South Korean-controlled Yeonpyeong Island, an event that many political observers view as the North’s initiative to get the attention of the world, particularly the United States and the conservative South Korean government. 4 people were killed, 2 of them civilians.

North Korea as seen from the border. I took this picture from the top of Mt. Odu. 

In this picture, the fake buildings built to encourage defection from the South are seen. 
Click to enlarge.

When I came back to my dormitory that day, students and dorm staff were tuning in to news. I could not understand of course since the news was in Korean. Nevertheless, I felt that something significant was going on. I mean, students must be watching the Guangzhou Asian Games,  which is usually  the case knowing how Koreans want to see their country's athletes defeating Japan's. But why all of a sudden they were watching news. 

Anyhow, life here in South Korea, in Seoul to be exact, is too good to be disturbed by a nuisance country that is North Korea. Their leaders chose the kind of government that might initially sound so noble and compassionate but needless to say, is not working. Think about Socialism’s principles - sharing the nation’s
wealth, equal distribution of benefits from healthcare to education, from food to entertainment. Think about Kim Il-sung’s Jukche Ideology or the principle of self-reliance. Despite these, Socialism remains in textbooks. There are fundamental flaws in Socialism. It does not recognize individual human potential. It reduces the human dignity as something that can be controlled by the government in power. It does not provide incentives for hard work, determination to succeed and talents. It prioritizes mere power over leadership. People in the North are suffering from hunger and lack of freedom, among others while their government spends most of their resources for nuclear arms research. North Korea is the world’s largest prison camp. You compare the North to the South. The difference is immense. While studying in this country, I learn to love freedom and democracy more and more. South Korea has among the highest living standards in the world, its economy one of the biggest, and more importantly, its people are FREE.

North Korea as seen from the border. I took this picture from the top of Mt. Odu. 

Click to enlarge.

2 months ago, I went to the border of these 2 countries with my classmates, on top of Mount Odu to see North Korea up-close. It was just an observatory and not the touristy DMZ that people know, which I guess is more historically significant.  Nevertheless, the experience was great. From there, we saw North Korea via our naked eye (of course, sometimes using the telescope for a closer, more detailed look). There are real people on the other side. They do farming, they have houses. What is interesting (and stupid) are the fake mid-rise buildings that North Korea built to appear that their people are living a good life. Another purpose is to encourage defection from the South, which I believe is ineffective. However, the difference is very clear. The roads on the other side of the border are not even paved. People there use tools that are too conventional for a 21st Century farming. The schools and other establishments look like that community is still living in the 60s. On the Southern side are modern roads and infrastructures. The South Korean cities of Paju and Ilsan, with their high rise apartment buildings can even be seen from the observatory, which made me really think a lot. I thought the Southern side represents how far freedom could achieve. The Northern side, which adheres to strict socialism and self-reliance, represents how their backward ideologies could put human potential and social progress into long stagnation. (Very serious me! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ)

Anyhow, you might ask how to reach the Odusan Observatory, which is 10 times or more cheaper than going to DMZ. First tip, ask the Korea Tourism Organization desk at Incheon Airport. LOL.

From Seoul, I suggest going to Ilsan first by Subway. Get into line 3 and take the last stop- Madu Station. Go out and search for Dunkin’ Donuts. In front of it, wait for the Bus No. 200. Ride the bus and tell the driver or any Korean in the bus who speaks English that you want to get off at Odusan Observatory, roughly 20-30 minutes travel time. ^^ The entrance fee would be 3,000 Won or less.

Hotels at the foothill of Mount Odu.

The shuttle bus that brings visitors to the gate of the observatory. 

 I don't know who this man is. Sorry.

Anyhow, we still had our picture taken in front of him. 

North Korea

The river full of mines. 

South Korean flag

South Korea: Paved roads

Area Map


North Korea

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