Labor Party Office
The old ruins of the office of the Labor Party, the ruling party of North Korea, is perhaps Korea’s most haunting reminder of the Korean war. The three-story building used to be The House of Labor Party from 1946 until the war broke out in 1950.
The headquarters has stood witness to the brutality suffered by the people in Cheorwon, Gimhwa, Pyeonggang, and Pocheon under the North Korean government. Many skeletons, bullets and ropes used for torture were found at the dugout behind the building.
The Labor Party Office is located in Cheolwon, a small county in Gangwondo. One part of this county belongs to the North and the other to the South.
Previously it used to be impossible for civilians to access the headquarters of the Labor Party. About 30 percent of Cheolwon now lies on the demilitarized zone, where tourist buses are found in greater number than that of military vehicles.
Near the ruins is a military checkpoint marking the Civilian Control Line. Taking photos of the checkpoint is strictly prohibited. One soldier even approached our bus to check on our cameras for security purposes.
Travel Info
Admission is Free
Closed: Every Tuesday, New Year's Day, Children's day, Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays Directions
Take an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Seoul Subway Line 2, Gangbyeon station) to Dongsong-eup or Sincheorwon.
Bus schedule: 06:30 - 21:00 // Interval: 20-30 min // Travel time: 2 hrs 20 min
Across from Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal, take Sintan-ri bound city bus. Interval: 1 hr // Travel time: 20 min
From Sincheorwon Intercity Bus Terminal, walk 3 min toward Cheorwon County Office and there is a post office. Take Dongsong bound city bus from there and get off at Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal. Then, move as above. Travel time: 50-60 min
Taxi takes 15-20 min from Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal, and 30 min from Sincheorwon Intercity Bus Terminal.
Address: Gwanjeon-ri, Cheorwon-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do // 강원 철원군 철원읍 관전리