Private DMZ Tour with North Korean Defector + N Korean Lunch
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Seoul, South Korea
- 7 to 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
With this tour, have the rare opportunity to visit the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with a North Korean defector to accompany you. Hear fascinating stories about what it was like living in North Korea and why your guide moved to South Korea in 2017. You can also try North Korean food at a restaurant run by defectors, and access views of North Korean villages.
- Get to the DMZ with ease: Transport is included
- Get picked up directly from your hotel
- Hear local stories about life in North Korea
- No need to bring snacks with you: Lunch is included
What's Included
- LunchLunch (North Korean Food)
- All admission fees
- Hotel pick up
- Travel insurance
- Hotel Drop off
- MealsNo vegetarian option
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Please provide the name of your hotel or specify a nearby subway station, train station, or other landmark for pickup.
Operating hours.10:30 am
Itinerary
1
Goyang
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Odusan Unification Tower
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
4
Hapjeong Station
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Not allow filming or streaming of personal information
- If there are 2 or fewer participants, up to 2 additional guests may join
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 148 reviews
Catherine_M, May 2026
Absolute privilege to listen to our guide's story and have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from him. It was so much more personal than merely reading information and piecing together a more partial understanding.
Traci_L, May 2026
Spending the day with Jun has been the highlight of our trip. His story is very moving and interesting, and he speaks about his escape with such maturity, thoughtfulness, and humor. He also does not shy away from sharing his personal feelings about the commercialization of the DMZ and the frustrating politics around reunification, and I really really appreciated that. This is not a glossy tour; it is a real, lived experience and very moving. He is very open to answering questions, and I learned a lot from him that I will be thinking about for a long long time. I cannot recommend this tour enough - it is worth every minute.
Jake_Z, May 2026
If you have found this tour - book it. Schedule it RIGHT NOW.
Forget the money, forget any other group tour experience you're looking at...this is absolutely the best possible DMZ experience you can book.
The tour and the time spent with Jun will leave a lasting impact on you and quite frankly might be the highlight of your trip to Korea. It was for us.
Jun picks you up in his vehicle and he is very friendly and conversational. He is an open book, and you can ask any questions about life and culture in North Korea as well as what life has been like in South Korea. He speaks English very well, too.
The North Korean restaurant is such a unique experience and nice part of the journey. Jun orders all of the food and walks you through it. We all thought it was tasty.
I want keep most of the experience under wraps to let you fully take it in once you're with him.
If I could give this experience 10 stars I would. Hands down the best decision to book.
Ray_T, May 2026
A completely unique, authentic, and deeply touching experience.
Our tour guide was clear and well spoken. We were able to ask endless questions and got heartfelt answers based on lived experience.
Zoe_P, May 2026
I found this tour recommended on Reddit and I'm very glad I was influenced to book this tour. The chance to hear from a North Korean defector was very special. A far different experience of the DMZ than if I went by myself or a regular tour. I feel really grateful to Jun, who does this tour that brings up his difficult memories and somewhat exploits him and his family's suffering. I wish many people will take his tour so he can secure enough money to find his father and pursue the business idea he shared that would allow him to live more peacefully.
Tom_K, May 2026
This was, without exaggeration, one of the most memorable and moving tours I've ever taken anywhere in the world. Our guide is a North Korean defector who escaped as a teenager, and hearing the DMZ explained through his lived experience transforms what could be a fairly standard tourist itinerary into something profound. He is articulate, thoughtful, generous, and balanced - open about the brutality of the regime he left behind, but clear-eyed and humane about the complexities of South Korean society. He brought history, geopolitics, and the everyday texture of life under totalitarianism alive in a way no book or documentary could. I left genuinely changed. Cannot recommend highly enough.
emanuela_t, Apr 2026
This was a day we will not easily forget. Jun’s story is amazing and moving, and I am grateful he decided to share it with us. I wish him all the best and would definitely recommend his tour!
Eliza_E, Apr 2026
We had such a good time with Jun! He was very informative, helpful, and generous in sharing his story. Plus the food was great!
Sarah_B, Apr 2026
Jun’s story was incredibly moving, he gave insightful information about North Korean history and culture, provided thoughtful answers to our questions, and was a very safe driver.
aapjones, Apr 2026
A very personal and informative tour. Our guide was very friendly and we enjoyed his company. Recommend him and his tour to everyone.
Izela_M, Mar 2026
I booked as a solo traveler and I was paired with a nice couple. Pick up from hongdae was smooth and lunch was delicious. Jun left a lasting impression and his story will stay with me forever. He was super funny and answered our questions. His resilience was inspiring and this was the most memorable part of my trip. Skip the big tours that are catered to tourists and book this educational tour. Despite having some prior knowledge about North Korea from school, Juns story was very insightful
Mark_A, Mar 2026
This tour is the most unique experience you will ever have in Korea. I have learned so much about North Korea vs. South Korea that are not taught in the history books, especially from the perspective of a defector.
For all the foodies out there, it was also very enlightening learning about the food served in North Korea and learning the differences with South Korea.
One of the best tours I have ever taken.
Nathanael_H, Mar 2026
This is such a great experience - the guide is knowledgable and brings a unique perspective to the DMZ and its transformation over the past 50 years. He is friendly and easy to talk to. His story is harrowing and moving. Would recommend to anyone looking for a more personal look at the DMZ and what it means to someone who was and is heavily impacted by it.
Chelsea_Q, Mar 2026
This experience is absolutely incredible. Jun is so thoughtful when sharing his story, and you get to learn so much about North Korea from a North Korean born person. He’s so funny, charming, and interesting. The car is very nice and his driving was safe. I really enjoyed the north Korean food for lunch and always feel foos is a great way to understand a culture. This is a must-do experience if you’re in Seoul.
Kevin_M, Feb 2026
This was the most engaging and rewarding tour we have ever taken, with no exceptions. The host is down-to-earth, friendly, and very open about the realities of the DMZ situation and the challenges that face defectors. This is not the glossy JSA tour; this is a visit to other DMZ locations, with genuine insight and emotion.
Terren_S, Feb 2026
Our DMZ tour with Jun was truly unforgettable. Jun is a North Korean defector who took us to a North Korean restaurant, the DMZ, and shared his remarkable story with us throughout the day.
Hearing his firsthand experience and perspective on life in North Korea and his escape, made this so much more than just a tour. Despite everything he has been through, Jun is composed, funny and engaging, bringing a deeply personal context to everything we saw.
His story and insights will stay with us for a lifetime. An exceptional experience that we highly recommend.
Jack_A, Feb 2026
Hearing Jun's story is hard to describe as anything but a lifechanging experience. It is an opportunity to hear what life in North Korea is really like but also Jun's personal journey - a very rare chance to hear a first-hand account of some of the most extreme resilience and human spirit imaginable. Jun happily answered our hundreds of questions and is even able to look back on his experiences with good humour.
Meeting Jun was an absolute privilege for us and should be considered an must-do activity during any visit to Seoul.
Betty_W, Jan 2026
It has taken me a while to get round to writing this review.
Meeting Jun was the highlight of my trip. I have always had a fascination of NK and defectors. I felt I was quite well read on the matter but meeting Jun and learning about things through his experience was eye opening. It really touched my soul. It makes you appreciate the small luxuries in life like our morning coffee.
Honestly I can't recommend this tour enough, for me, learning stories from Jun is more valuable than going on some other generic tour.
Hana_F, Jan 2026
This was a highlight of our short trip to Seoul. Unexpectedly interesting and eye opening experience. It was recommended by a friend who did it a few months before us and couldn’t stop talking about it. Jun had so much to tell us and we will never forget what we learned on this tour. 100% recommend!!
Anna_P, Jan 2026
The best tour we’ve ever had! Jun has looked after us very well and his story will stay with us forever. Even our teenage girls were fascinated by his story. We definitely recommend this tour.
Anna_G, Dec 2025
This tour is the best thing I’ve done in South Korea. I booked this tour with Jun last February and was so impressed that I booked it again for my whole family when they came to visit. Jun is knowledgeable, engaging and funny. His story of defecting from North Korea is harrowing. He shares all of it with grace and humility, and gives unique insight into the DMZ. I highly recommend Jun’s tour.
Joseph_S, Dec 2025
Interesting and informative as one would expect being led by someone who escaped NK. Listening to the story while looking over the border was one of the more memorable experiences. The food stop was also good. You don't get to see all the various sites but you see the last train out of NK.
Jeffrey_H, Dec 2025
I’m not sure how to begin this review other than to say it was one of the most meaningful tours we’ve had the privilege to take. Unsure what to think prior to its start we were quickly engaged as Jun told one of the most difficult and inspiring stories we’ve ever heard.
Jun’s knowledge of Korean history, both north and south, along with his deeply personal story of defection make this tour truly one of a kind. His bravery in defecting along with the challenges of making a new life are inspiring.
The intimate setting and Jun’s openness created an environment that led to meaningful discussions and a day that we will not forget.
Thank you Jun for sharing your story with us. You will be in our thoughts.
Anonymous, Nov 2025
Hands down the best tour we have ever taken! This should not be missed when traveling through South Korea. This was a very special experience that we will never forget. If you can only choose one experience to participate in, this is it!
Pamie_C, Nov 2025
I can't stress how much this tour was the highlight of my first trip to Seoul! Jun's stories were heroic, tragic and remarkable. This tour is also different from all the other DMZ "cookie cutter" tours. A very intimate, private tour and highly recommended! Thank you Jun!
Tony_D, Nov 2025
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.
Ryan_F, Nov 2025
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.
Ruth_H, Oct 2025
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.
Catherine_B, Oct 2025
Was an informative, eye opening experience. Our guide was great and taught us about the realities of life in North Korea.
Robin_T, Oct 2025
Great tour guide with an even more impressive story. Highly recommend the tour with Jun; he is an amazing guy!
Likely to Sell Out
From $170.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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