Private DMZ Tour with North Korean Defector + N Korean Lunch

Overview

Available languages

Korean

English

Mobile ticket

This tour is the only one led by an English-speaking North Korean defector. Through Jun, who arrived in South Korea in 2017, you'll experience contrasting historical perspectives of the Korean Peninsula and gain a deeper cultural and political understanding of North Korea than any other tour can offer.

Moreover, only on this tour can you experience North Korean food at a restaurant run by actual defectors and hear fascinating stories hidden behind the dishes.

Engage in conversations about life in North Korea while enjoying scenic views of real North Korean villages. Embark on a unique journey through Jun's life in North Korea and his remarkable defection story on this small-group private tour.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Not allow filming or streaming of personal information

If there are 2 or fewer participants, up to 2 additional guests may join

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

All admission fees

Hotel pick up

Lunch (North Korean Food)

Travel insurance

Hotel Drop off

No vegetarian option

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Goyang

North Korean Local Food Restaurant (Operated by North Korean defector) Experience lunch at a North Korean cuisine restaurant run by a real North Korean defector. This restaurant, one of the few in Korea, offers at least four N Korean dishes. You can enjoy fascinating stories about North Korean cuisine firsthand from our N Korean defector guide

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Odusan Unification Tower

Experience real North Korean villages just 2km away. Through binoculars, observe glimpses of real North Koreans' lives and see propaganda buildings erected by the North Korean government. This tour features a defector guide who will provide detailed insights into life there. Listen to guide Jun's stories of North Korea and his remarkable defection journey at the café on the 3rd floor of the observatory. You can ask him: How many approved hairstyles does a North Korean man have? What is university life like in North Korea? and hear Jun's challenging escaping journey in China and Vietnam

2 hours • Admission Included

Options

Private DMZ Tour + Lunch

Duration: 8 hours
North Korean Lunch
Basic tour: This tour includes the North Korean restaurant, Odusan Observatory and Freedom bridge
Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

109 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

109

Best tour I’ve ever done in my life
Tony D,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was the best tour I have ever done in my life. A truly unique life experience. Thank you so much Jun for sharing your story with us today. It is well worth the higher your cost.
An absolute must do
Ryan F,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was genuinely one of the best experiences I've ever had. Tour guided experiences are usually not for me. Jun is truly one one the most impressive people I've ever met. His story is incredible.
Touring the DMZ with Jun,...
Ruth H,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Touring the DMZ with Jun, may unexpectedly be the most memorable part of my trip. He is an amazing storyteller and his story as a North Korean defector really drives home the horror and consequences of the Korean war and gets to the heart of why the DMZ exists.
Informative
Catherine B,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Was an informative, eye opening experience. Our guide was great and taught us about the realities of life in North Korea.
Great tour guide with an...
Robin T,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great tour guide with an even more impressive story. Highly recommend the tour with Jun; he is an amazing guy!
Amazing
Anna G,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Jun’s tour was phenomenal. His story lends a personal touch to the DMZ and gives weight and gravity to the place. I appreciated Jun’s perspective on the DMZ and hearing his first hand account of escaping North Korea was incredible. I’m so appreciative of him to share us story.
Interesting and personal tour
Lars A,
Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A very interesting and personal tour that gives you an insight into life in North Korea and what it is like for a North Korean refugee to come to North Korea
An intimate tour and emotional story
Ellen M,
Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Jun delivers a personal perspective of the struggles that North Koreans face, and gives an honest take on his time defecting and living in South Korea. If you are considering a DMZ visit with a larger tour company, this is without a doubt the better option. It was the highlight of my trip to South Korea and I’m so thankful that Jun was willing to tell his story to us. It was so lovely to meet him and I wish him all the best with his tour business.
I HIGHLY recommend this...
Osvaldo B,
Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
I HIGHLY recommend this tour for anyone interested in the DMZ & learning about some unique history. Jun was incredibly kind and open with his experience. The unique perspective of the story he shared truly grounded me into reality and allowed me to truly understand what life in N. Korea is like.
This will be forever ingrained in my memory
Michelle C,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I highly recommend this tour - Jun's experience and story will be more impactful than any simple view of the DMZ or North Korea that you get from an observatory or history museum. Right from the start, Jun was very open in asking us about what we've heard about North Korea and giving us his perspective. He shared about his difficult and life-changing escape, and I know this story will be forever ingrained in my memory. This is without a doubt one of the most educational and intimate experiences possible if you want to gain insight into life in North Korea, how the Korean War affected lives in unfathomable ways, and listen to the story of someone who has survived life's greatest physical and mental challenges. I will continue to think about his story and hope that one day his family and all other affected families can be reunited, and that many oppressed people can be freed.