Gangwon Province to Develop DMZ Museum as a Security Tourism Hub

5 Billion Won to Be Invested by 2026 to Improve Visitor Facilities
Over 1 Million Visitors Surpassed... Satisfaction Score Reaches 91

On December 1, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced its plan to intensively develop the DMZ Museum as a key hub for security tourism.

The DMZ Museum, the nation’s first public (provincial) museum specializing in the DMZ, is located in the civilian control zone of Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong County. Since its opening on August 14, 2009, it has been in operation for 16 years as of this year.

The museum consists of one basement level and three above-ground floors, featuring four exhibition zones, a special exhibition space, a video hall, a multi-purpose center, meeting rooms, and a museum shop (selling souvenirs and operating a cafe). Admission is free of charge.

Since the start of the 8th popularly elected administration (from 2022 onward), the museum has seen explosive growth, with an average of over 250,000 visitors per year and more than 1 million visitors over the past four years. In August of this year, the cumulative number of tourists surpassed 3 million, reaching a total of 3,079,538 visitors to date.

The increase in visitor numbers has been accompanied by consistently high levels of visitor satisfaction.

In a satisfaction survey conducted in September this year with 100 visitors, the museum received an average score of 91 points. The staff service was rated at 93 points, willingness to recommend to others at 92 points, satisfaction with crafts and hands-on experiences at 91 points, exhibition content and quality at 88 points, and willingness to revisit at 88 points, all reflecting high evaluations.

Based on its symbolic significance as a "site of division" and its unique content, the DMZ Museum has been selected for three consecutive terms as a "Korea Unique Venue" by the Korea Tourism Organization, maintaining its status through 2026.

In preparation for accommodating more than 250,000 visitors annually through 2026, the province plans to invest 520 million won to improve safety and enhance exhibition content.

Additionally, within the civilian control zone of Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong County, the Goseong Unification Observatory is currently under development in the nation’s first Forest Utilization Promotion District, designated in December 2024. Once this area is developed, it is expected to create a synergistic effect with the DMZ Museum, attracting a large influx of tourists.

The Unification Observatory, designated as a Forest Utilization Promotion District, is being developed with an investment of approximately 24.5 billion won by 2029. The project includes the construction of hiking trails, a sunrise observatory tower, and a security education center, with a focus on ecological experiences and security education.

The DMZ Museum is expected to become a hands-on security education venue, featuring a large-scale collection of over 7,800 military heritage artifacts and materials, including nine North Korean defector wooden boats, four tanks, barbed wire, and permanent craft experience programs that allow visitors to experience the DMZ both emotionally and physically.

Kim Gwangrae, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "Although there are limitations such as complicated entry procedures and restrictions on the length of stay within the civilian control zone, these challenges themselves provide a valuable experience of the reality of division and the necessity of peaceful reunification that can only be felt here." He added, "We will focus on developing the museum as a security tourism hub by leveraging its unique DMZ-specialized exhibition content that cannot be found anywhere else."