Dark Tourism

In order to support this expensive and long-­‐term process, I’d like to introduce Dark Tourism to this exclusive post-­war condition. Dark Tourism is defined as tourism traveling to places that are historically associated with human suffering and deep tragedy. Dark Tourism locations, such as the former Chornobyl Nuclear Facility in Ukraine and the camps of the Second World War in Germany and Poland, demonstrate the consequences and toll of immoral, inhuman, and destructive actions. However, at the same time, Dark Tourism generates and provides the funding and resources to address the future occupation of such places.

The contents of the dark tourism in DMZ would be using the unique geology and ecology as media, and making use of the remnants of the war (such as battlefield ruins, tunnels, watchtowers, and tank traps) to preserve the memories. Since the sites of dark tourism are relatively tiny and scattered, it only requires a little investment and land at the beginning. As time goes on, the revenue of dark tourism could fund the general landmine clearance, and finally get the land prepared for other developments and programs. Ideally, it could be accomplished in 50 years, and the dark tourism sites will be transferred into historical and educational sites. It is a temporal program for the region that aims to truly dissolve the physical buffer zone toward complete unification.