Korea Pt.5 - Daegwang-Ri (part2)

Since much of our tour, led by Ellen`s dad, and seemingly much of life close to the DMZ, revolves around the military and the Korean War i decided to group together these photos into one post of that theme. It was not in fact ALL we saw or did in and around Daegwang-Ri, but it was a prominent part.

One of the first places Ellen`s dad took us was to a war museum which was closed for New Years. So we looked around the grounds and memorials outside. This was only one of many types of planes there:


And this was only one of many tanks on the premises:


This memorial was very interesting, and very large as well. Someday i would like to have a full (English) explanation of the symbolism in this sculpture.


This is one of the militray checkpoints that we came across frequently during our tour. Actually i think this might have been the one that we tried to get through to see the DMZ. We were told that it was closed for New Years Day and that if we went back up the road a ways and told the commander at the soldiers rest station that we had our family grave within the limits than we could be granted permission. So that`s what we did.


In typical Asian-ness the soldiers` rest station had a collection of "cute" mascots that adorned the sides of their buildings and stations:


This was the last photo we could take before they took our cameras away from us and escorted us past the checkpoint and up to the observatory. If the soldiers look young it`s becuase they are; all Korean men are required to do two years of mandatory military service.


Now this picture was taken in the early hours of January 2nd in Daegwang-ri town just outside Ellen`s parents` place. I took it for two reasons: 1) to show how small and rural the town is (and how much it reminds me of most small towns in the Maritimes in Canada - except with more Hangul writing), and 2) because i found it more than a little disturbing that there was a shop with "Nuk" on the sign so close to the broder with North Korea.


And also, right in front of the train station, an army jeep and an army surplus supply store. The military presence really permeates life here in Daegwang-ri.