Historic former U.S. base near DMZ to become stronghold of culture and learning

More sections of a historic former U.S. military base north of Seoul will open to the public in October.

People view the exhibits at Greaves Gallery, which was formerly a bowling alley for U.S. forces. It was remodeled to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire, showcasing the Korean War Armistice Agreement and the stories of student soldiers. [GYEONGGI PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT]

More sections of a historic former U.S. military base north of Seoul will open to the public in October.

The Gyeonggi provincial government announced on Thursday that the accessible areas of Camp Greaves in Paju, Gyeonggi, will be expanded to include 10 exhibition buildings, including an ammunition depot.

Under the local government’s plan, 33 percent, or 39,000 square meters (419,792 square feet) of the camp’s total 118,395 square meters will be open to visitors, a significant increase from the current 2 percent.

Visitors can reach the camp by taking an 850-meter (2,788 feet) gondola ride across the Imjin River.

A gondola that operates from Imjingak, a park located on the banks of the Imjin River in Paju, Gyeonggi, to Camp Greaves. [PAJU CITY GOVERNMENT]

The Gyeonggi government says it is actively preparing to welcome tourists by creating visitor programs and installing amenities and infrastructure, such as water supply systems, wastewater treatment plants and water and sewage lines.

Camp Greaves's buildings, built between 1950 and 1990, are due to undergo remodeling. The project will preserve the facades' original architectural style while updating the interiors with the latest equipment.

Camp Greaves served as the base of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Division's 506th Infantry Regiment for about 50 years after the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War was signed in July 1953.

U.S. soldiers were stationed at the base until August 2004, when its last American occupants were deployed to Iraq. The land was returned to the Korean government in 2007.

The buildings of Camp Greaves hold significant modern and contemporary historical value, offering insights into the lives of U.S. soldiers and the architectural style of that era, according to the Gyeonggi provincial government.

A facility in Camp Greaves that was remodeld into an exhibition hall. [GYEONGGI PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT]

The Gyeonggi provincial government plans to transform the ammunition depot into a gallery space featuring multimedia displays and installation artwork, while the orderly room and staff sergeant dormitory will exhibit materials related to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC). One of the buildings will be restored as a military officers’ office from the period immediately following the armistice.

Other facilities, such as the supply room and restrooms, will be converted into galleries and interactive spaces related to the Korean War and the U.S. armed forces in Korea. A former U.S. military vehicle depot will be repurposed as a rest area.

Visitors can also access additional amenities, including a ticket booth, information desk and public restrooms.

The local government has operated the Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Center since 2013 through an agreement with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The center is approximately 2 kilometers from the DMZ and offers diverse programs, including educational tours.

Since 2022, the city has also managed the 2,760-square-meter Greaves Gallery, which it took over from the ministry.

The existing Greaves Gallery, formerly a bowling alley for U.S. forces, was remodeled to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of active hostilities in the Korean War. It showcases the signing of the armistice and the stories of Korean student soldiers.

Over 490,000 individuals visited the gallery via the Paju Imjingak Peace Gondola in 2023.

Cho Chang-bum, head of the Peace and Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi, said they are “repairing decrepit facilities and developing programs to shed more light on Camp Greaves,” which he called a “special area” that the provincial government hopes will help visitors “remember the past and understand the present.”

BY JEON IK-JIN, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]