[Travel ★★★]
(P1) The Korean De-Militarized Zone (or “DMZ”) is probably one of the strangest places on Earth to visit as a tourist. There are no beautiful sights to see. There are no interesting foods to try. There are no department stores from which to buy something fashionable. Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the DMZ has separated North and South Korea. This 2-kilometer area on each side of the border between both countries spans the entire 251-kilometer width of the Korean peninsula. Armed soldiers from both sides patrol along the DMZ and there are many military outposts and towers in the area.
(P2) About 75,000 tourists visit the DMZ each year. It is the most popular tourist attraction in South Korea. Despite that, it is not an easy place to access. First, organized visits of the DMZ are only allowed at a very specific part of it. This point called the UN Joint Security Area is located about 40 kilometers north of Seoul. Tourists to the DMZ must sign a form that shows they understand and will obey the rules of the tour operators. They also forbid tourists to take photographs at certain times, even while on the bus. There is a strict dress code enforced and tourists cannot wear t-shirts, jeans, or shorts on their visit.
(P3) After arriving at the DMZ, tourists can see guards patrolling both the north and south side of the border. They can also visit several tunnels that the North Koreans dug under the DMZ and into South Korea many years ago. Of course, the visit isn’t totally somber. There is, after all, a gift shop so you can buy something to remember your visit to the strangest place in the world!
WORDS: 289
SOURCE: http://dreamreader.net/lesson/the-korean-dmz/
VOCABULARY: spans, peninsula, outposts, forbid, tunnels, somber
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.
- Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.
- Would you like to take a tour of the DMZ? Why or why not?
- Why do you think there is still tensions between North and South Korea?
- Why do you think there is a strict dress code for tourists in the DMZ?
READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
- What does DMZ stand for?
- When was the war over between North and South Korea?
- Where is the site of the UN Joint Security Area?
- Pictures can be taken at any time during the tours. (T or F)
- There are several souvenir shops in the DMZ. (T or F)
EXPRESSIONS or PHRASES:
What do the following expressions or phrases mean?
- no beautiful sights to see (P1)
- armed soldiers (P1)
- despite that (P2)
- strict dress code (P2)
- there is, after all (P3)
