Freedom Bridge, a temporary wooden bridge erected across the Imjingang River in 1953 to bring home 12,773 South Korean POWs. The bridge was later removed and placed in its current location, surrounded by a pleasant Korean-style garden.

it’s where nearly 13,000 prisoners of war were traded at the end of the Korean War. Because the DMZ is so heavily land-mined, and because any bridges existing before the war had long since been destroyed, this bridge was built with the express purpose of trading back prisoners of war. It’s a foot bridge only—prisoners were driven to the bridge, and then they walked across to return to their homes.

The bridge now serves as a place of remembrance for families who are separated—South Koreans tie bright colored ribbons covered in messages to the bridge, messages for their family members in the North, or in memorial of family members who died in the North. Koreans place a lot of importance on returning to your birthplace to honor your ancestors for certain Korean holidays (such as Chuseok), and so for those who were born in the North, Bridge of Freedom is the next best thing. It’s definitely a moving place.

DMZ Spy Tour – see the real truth behind North Korea

DMZ Tour

Road Trip to the Axis of Evil (one day DMZ tour)