The strip of no-man’s land separating North and South Korea is actually one of the most militarized places in the world, with barbed wire, mines, and artilleries in both directions. But a small village lives inside the zone.
No man’s land was created in 1953 after the Korean War to keep the two countries apart, and hundreds of villages were cleared to make the strip, but just two were permitted to remain.
Freedom Village, south of the line, and Peace Village to the north, stayed.
However, as their numbers dwindle, 70 years on, the villages are not thriving by living on the doorstep of one of the world’s most hostile states.
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And if something happens at the border, it’s put under lockdown and children are sent home from school.
Residents from in the village spoke to the BBC about living so close to North Korea.
Freedom Village, Taesung in Korean, isn’t easy to get to. Visitors and residents have to pass through several checkpoints, past armored tanks and drive north.
There are no medical facilities, restaurants, or shops in the village, which is under guard of more than 800 soldiers.
One elderly relative who has lived in the village before the war, Kim Dong-rae told the outlet her friend was kidnapped by North Koreans after accidentally straying over the border. She was reportedly held captive for three days when she stepped too far collecting acorns.
The village is run by the United Nations Command, a US-led army made up of soldiers from several countries. Their job is to ensure armistice holds as a peace deal hasn’t been agreed between North and South Korea.
“There is nowhere like this anywhere else in the world,” said US Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mercado.
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“The village is not dangerous day to day, but the risk is incredibly high.”
Soldiers patrol day and night and accompany residents in their daily lives, including farming.
However, Mayor Kim Dong-gu says it ‘breaks his heart’ as they are ‘one people’ yet can’t talk to each other.
There is also a strict curfew at night, with residents needing permission to leave their homes after 7pm and not allowed out after midnight. Soldiers induct a night roll call knocking on each door as a formality, but the surveillance of cameras knows where people are.
To offset the danger and loneliness, villagers don’t pay taxes or rent and they have access to farmland, and if they can’t sell any, the government will buy instead.
The population has dropped and now 138 residents remain, as children often leave and don’t come back after education, work or love.
Living Between Enemy Lines is available on BBC iPlayer.
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