Looking Through the Binoculars

As a militarily restricted zone, the DMZ space has been slowly consumed by wildlife. The irony is that because it is prohibited to humans by the fact of human conflict, today this military space acts as a wildlife preserve. This preserved space only exists in-between reality and fantasy, a mirage in South Koreans’ mind. This major research project analyzes not only this contradiction but also military conflict, political division, and social trauma through the lens of DMZ tourism, discussing how this military space plays roles in modern South Korean culture and society. Also, the personal point of view in this film moves back and forth between reality and fantasy, capturing the surreal nature of South Korean military tourism and social conflicts, using narration over contemporary shots of tourist sites, archival footage, and performance.