What to See in Paju - Top Sights and Attractions

Korean War monuments and sculptures. Imjingak, and sometimes in English called the Imjingak resort, is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River along the tracks of the former Gyeongui Train Line outside the city of Paju, South Korea. The park has many statues and monuments regarding the Korean War. There is also a restaurant, an observation deck, a pool in the shape of the Korean peninsula, and even a small amusement park.

The park was built in 1972 to console those from both sides who are unable to return to their hometowns, friends and families because of the division of Korea and currently receives approximately 1.2 million visitors per year.

Imjingak is where the "Freedom Bridge" lies. Crosses the Imjin river, it is a former railroad bridge which was used by repatriated POWs/soldiers returning from the North. It is more famous, however, and until 1998 was the only point of egress in the western sector other than Liberty Bridge (which was controlled by the South Korean Army) onto the DMZ, and the only direct link to Camp Greaves, Liberty Bell, and Panmunjom. This is not to be confused with the "bridge of freedom" which is merely an access bridge to the main span that allowed the one way southbound traffic to pass by while northbound traffic stood waiting its turn to cross; it now crosses a stream adjacent to the Imjin river and connects with the North-South railway.^[1]

Cultural center in Paju, South Korea. Heyri Art Valley is an artistic community in the unification hill district of Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It was constructed by artists, writers, painters and other creatives.

Heyri Art Valley is Korea's largest artistic community with an area of approximately 495,868 square metres (5,337,480 sq ft). In 1997, Heyri was conceived as a planned settlement. It began in 1998 with an inaugural meeting attended by 380 cultural artists. This unique community village integrates concepts that coexist in the fields of production, exhibit, sales, and habitation of cultural art. From a functional perspective, the Heyri Art Valley was planned with an urban form that focused on cultural businesses. It is home to many galleries, museums, exhibit halls, concert halls, small theaters, cafes, restaurants, bookstores, guest houses, art shops, and creative living spaces for artists. Each building was designed by dozens of nationally and internationally renowned architects, who also designed features of the natural landscape, such as mountains, hills, swamps, and brooks. The community derives its name from a traditional Nongyo (farming song), "the sound of Heyri," native to the region.^[3]