Practical Information

Travel to the Kumgang Mountains from South Korea is strictly monitored, and must be done as a part of a tour group. Tours are done through Hyundai Asan, with overland and sea routes offered. The overland route is relatively new, leaving from Goseong Observatory, and is much faster and easier than taking the boat from Sokcho.

Contact:

Trips may be booked through

Geumgangsan.com Co. Ltd.
Tel: 82-2-739-1090
Fax: 82-2-739-3222

or in person at

Geumgangsan.com Co. Ltd.
906 Haeyoung Bldg.
148 Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu
Seoul.

Leave Anguk Station Exit 1, and on your left look for a grey building with a green Hana Bank sign written in Hangeul a little ways down. Enter the building, take the elevator to the 9th floor and look for room 906. Open weekdays and Saturday.

Tours range from day trips, where you arrange your own transit to Goseong, to three or five day excursions. On longer trips, one may arrange to be picked up in Seoul for an extra 30,000 South Korean Won round trip.

Two passport sized color photos are needed to reserve a space on the tour.


Things to bring :

Outfit - Proper gear for hiking according to season. A raincoat would be a wise investment, although they can be bought on site in North Korea for 3 USD.

Toiletries - Towels and soap are not provided in the hotels.

Medicine - First aid supplies, medicines. Access to supplies is limited when in North Korea.

Other - Cameras.

Things not to bring:

Electronics - Laptops, PDAs, cell phones, cameras with 160mm or longer lenses, binoculars with 10x zoom or higher. Video cameras may be confiscated at the border. Anything taken will be stored, and returned to you upon exit of North Korea.

Hazardous Substances.

Written material relating to North or South Korea.

Anything determined to be detrimental to the North Korean way of life.

Do not:

Interfere with the duties of a North Korean Official.

Litter.

Pick, pluck or otherwise damage any natural things.

Criticize North Korean politics or economy.

Cost:

Cost depends on the season and the day of departure. Departure day determines which hotel you will stay in, and directly affects the price. Expect to pay 400,000 to 600,000 South Korean Won (including transit to Goseong), and an extra 200 USD (the currency while in the areas cleared for tourism in the Kumgang area) for food, performances, optional hikes, North Korean vodka, and souvenirs.

Exit Procedures:

Foreigners do not seem to need a reentry permit if leaving from South Korea to the North. Before going through customs you will receive a temporary passport (a small booklet with passport information written on it, a debit card to be used in tourist zones, a filled embarkment card. These will be in a plastic sheath, to be worn around the neck at all times while in the North.

South Korean exit proceedures are performed at the Goseong Observatory. There is a special line for Foreigners,  (aptly, although somewhat bluntly, labelled "Foreigner").
You will receive a South Korean exit stamp. On the other side, you will be assigned a bus, that you will stay with for the duration of the tour. Remember your bus number.

Entry Proceedures:

North Korean customs consists of four ATCO trailers and a few tents, and is situated in one of the most beautiful areas that will be seen on the trip. North Korean officers (male and female) will supervise disembarkation from the bus. Your guide will tell you where to line up, and in what order. Customs is a cursory check of luggage through an old x-ray machine. Make sure to remove any film or camera equipment from baggage during this process.