The 1950–1953 Korean War was one of the first hot conflicts in the Cold War. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the symbol of a conflict that still remains unresolved to the present day. The DMZ stretches to the north and south of the ceasefire line and separates North and South Korea. Civilians are strictly prohibited from entering the DMZ, with only few exceptions. The photographer Park Jongwoo was given permission in 2009 and 2010 to document this militarised landscape. The Allied Museum is now dedicating a special exhibition to his photographs.
July 2023 sees the 70th anniversary of the signing of the ceasefire agreement of Panmunjom. A formal peace agreement has still not been concluded to date. The Iron Curtain may have disappeared in Europe more than 30 years ago, but in Korea it remains a bitter reality.
This exhibition is financially supported by the Korea Foundation.