Since 1998, South Korean tourists have been
allowed to visit Mount Kumgang, initially travelling by cruise ship, but
recently more commonly bycoach. In 2002, the area around the mountain was
separated from Kangwŏn Province and organized as a separately-administered Tourist
Region. The land route was opened in 2003. A rail link exists on the North
Korean side up to the border, but no tracks are laid betweenGangneung and
the border in South Korea.
In 1998, there were 15,500 tourists in November and
December, in 1999 there were 148,000, and in 2000 213,000. In 2001
