Dissonant Living and Building in the No-Man’s Land on the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The border between North and South Korea has been a source of considerable uncertainty and volatility since the end of the Korean War during 1950–53. Since then, many conflicts and tensions could have led to a full-scale war on the peninsula. ‘The Korean Armistice Agreement’ of 1953 created the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) to minimise direct clashes between the two parties. However, despite its name, the DMZ is the most heavily militarised border globally. This area, designated as the DMZ, is a strip of land crossing the whole Korean Peninsula along the 38th parallel north. It is a narrow line, 250 km long and approximately 4 km wide, serving as a buffer between two countries. In reality, the border’s infrastructure is much more extensive than its official area describes—the stalemate between the two parties preconditions any architectural and urban development on the peninsula. The Joint Security Area (JSA) is in the middle of the DMZ, about 800 m wide and roughly circular. The Military Demarcation Line (MDL) bisects South and North Korea. The JSA is a symbol of what has been happening on the peninsula. This paper contends that the border between North and South Korea has remained volatile and unpredictable despite the physical separation of the two parties in late 1976 after a deadly incident in the JSA. The segregation of opposing forces in a particular special area reduced the minor clashes resulting from daily in-person contact. However, this was only a half measure. Peace in the area will be possible only by ending the direct military confrontation between the two parties.