Wishing for peace in the zone where the gunfire has
ceased
A walk along the iron railings in the DMZ
(Demilitarized Zone) with the Infantry Division “KEY” in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do
I arrived in the Infantry Division “KEY,” situated in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do, at 12:05p.m., a little bit after lunchtime. As I arrived later than scheduled, I headed for the mess hall first to taste an army meal. This experience program was joined by more than 80 students from 4 middle schools in Yeoju. These days, most schools offer meal services, so the students didn’t feel awkward about eating food in a tray that was divided into different compartments. Well, the students were in for a surprise, because there was something strange about the way that the food was served that no one really noticed until they sat down.
Article and photos by Jeong Cheol-Hoon
Chopsticks were nowhere to be found in the distribution area, nor on the tables. Nowhere. Only when they realized this did the students become interested in the spoons, which they had accepted before without any thought. The students had received these utensils, thinking that they were just spoons, but now realized that the utensil had a very peculiar form, which was like a combination of a spoon and a set of chopsticks. There was loud laughter everywhere, as the students became interested in this unique utensil. Their chatter over the multipurpose gadget that they could use to serve rice, eat soup and pick up Gimchi continued for a long time. Filled with the liveliness of teenagers, they also talked much about the army meal that they tasted for the first time. The general appreciation of the military meal, a Korean dish called “Zzambap,” was good. Of course, there were also those who gave low marks for the food. Maybe it was because the tastes of those students, used to instant foods, did not agree with the relatively rough taste of steamed rice. Anyway, they finished their meal all at once, and looked very cheerful. It seemed as though they were pleased to taste the “Zzambap,” about which they had heard people talking often. They washed their own food trays and spoons, and returned them before going out of the hall in groups.
The next place the students visited after gathering together again on the drill ground was the barracks of the private soldiers. To the adults present who had served in the military, there was nothing new about this, but to the third-year middle school students, it was all quite new and interesting. In particular, there were many questions about the bulletproof helmets. They wanted to know whether or not bullets really could not penetrate the helmet, and why it is called “Haiba.” Their questions continued. Soldiers explained that the new bulletproof helmet supplied to our Armed Forces can protect a soldier against 7.62 mm bullets, and is even better than the one used by American soldiers. They added that the word “Haiba” is not jargon, but originated from the word “fiber,” which is used for the production of bulletproof helmets.
All of this was interesting for the students, and at the same time, the soldiers looked pleased, as well. They kindly answered all questions, with each soldier surrounded by a small group of students. Students asked the soldiers if they could try on the bulletproof helmets, which the soldiers gave them a chance to do. They also showed the young visitors the proper way to give a formal salute. All of them looked very close to one another, as if they were speaking with their younger brothers. The students in full kit, somewhat awkward in their movements, attempted to make correct salutes with bulletproof helmets on their heads and cartridges around their waists. Behind them, the laughter of the soldiers resounded through the room.
At the same time, on the drill ground, other soldiers were busy preparing for the inspection visit of the students. The barracks experience program, which was planned together with the program “Walking along the iron railings in the DMZ,” was to include visits to a tank battalion, artillery battalion and infantry battalion of the 5th Infantry Division. The visit program was subject to change, depending on the situation of each unit.
Today, they visited an artillery battalion of the 5th Infantry Division. It was spectacular just to see all the weapons arranged in a row on the drill ground. There were some personal firearms like rifles K1, K2 and K3, the anti-aircraft firearm MG50, and even a 105 mm towed gun, showing the power of the artillery unit. In addition to the firearms, there were other pieces of equipment used in actual military units, such as gas masks and observation equipment. I felt like staying in the military equipment exhibition hall.
The interest of the students was overwhelmingly focused on the firearms. Among them, they best liked the bulky and heavy 105 mm towed gun. The students, seeing guns for the first time, were engrossed in looking at the gun barrel and turning the steering wheel, with great curiosity. The soldiers told us that the gun’s maximum rapidity of fire is 15 rounds per minute, and the shooting rage is 18 km. To this day, it is one of the main firearms of our artillery.
The anti-aircraft firearm MG50 was popular among the students as well. Invented in the 1930s, the MG50 is the most popular heavy machine gun in the world. During World War II, this firearm was famous for its strong firepower. With the exception of tanks, it could destroy all kinds of armored cars and vehicles. But now, the machine gun shown on the drill ground is just an object of the students’ curiosity. There were explanations on how to disassemble, assemble and operate the MG50. The students personally attempted to load the gun, but it was not as easy as they thought. A soldier showed us easily how to load the gun, but it wasn’t as easy for the students. In fact, they couldn’t move the charging handle at all, making some of them feel shamed.
After the visits, the students hurried to get on the car to go to the “Key Observatory.” They were continuing to the program “Walking along the iron railings in the DMZ.” Before the experience program in the DMZ, the group stayed at the Key Observatory, where they heard explanations on the DMZ and the topography of the northern regions that can be seen from the observatory for about 30 minutes. After the briefing, ribbons in all colors were distributed to the students, and they headed for the iron railings after writing their wishes on the ribbons. The moment the wooden gate between the Key Observatory and the GOP (General Outpost) was opened, the students, who had previously been laughing and noisy, became quiet and tense. The DMZ was overgrown with primeval forests, and the iron railings installed in front of the zone could be seen as the gate opened slowly. The thin ribbons hung by other students who had visited before them were fluttering in the wind. They could read the little wishes written on the ribbons of the previous visitors: “We want the reunification of our country,” “For the day we all become one,” and others. For more than half a century, the DMZ has been the symbol of division, but at this moment, it was being reborn as a PLZ (Peace & Life Zone). I was thinking that the way along the iron railings that separate North and South Korea, this unique place in the world, could be a way for peace.
The students walked about 1 km through the very steep stairs, the so-called “Stairway to Heaven,” and a meandering unpaved road. The walk was hard, and the students sweated a lot. But none of them complained that it was too difficult. Maybe it was because they well understood the historical significance of the place and the road on which they were walking.
Information
For the use of DMZ tourism products, reservations through DMZ Tour (www.dmztourkorea.com) and the tourism reservation site of Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (www.ethankyou.co.kr) are requested. The fee for the one-day course that includes the visits to barrack rooms and the Key Observatory is as follows: Adults 37,000 won, Youth 35,000 won, Children 32,000 won. Contact: 02-706-4851.
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