Yongsan War Memorial, seeing Korea's last divided country - Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
Scene of the reconstruction of Seoul's restoration of the armed forces displayed in the '6/25 War Room'
Yongsan War Memorial, seeing Korea's last divided country
Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
On June 25, 1950, the dawn where everyone fell asleep before dawn. Gunshots echoed on the peaceful Korean Peninsula. The Korean War began when the North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel, which was the inter-Korean military demarcation line. The blood-sharing war between the Korean people continued with the casualties of the United States, the Soviet Union, and China until the July 1953 armistice. Even before enjoying the joy of escaping from the Japanese colonial rule. Introducing Yongsan's War Memorial, which records the history of the land half a century ago.
Remembrance Day and June, which embraced June 25, are the month of the Veterans' Day. Perhaps it is because of our ancestors who fought everything to protect the country that we can suffer from personal concerns such as dating, employment, and marriage. Before and after June 25th, how about remembering your ancestors for a few days and having a thankful heart? With that in mind, I visited the Yongsan War Memorial.
The history of the war recorded vividly at a glance
Before entering the war memorial, the giant pagoda at the front door and the statue of the patriotic army greet visitors.
Seoul Yongsan War Memorial
It was a picture of the time of the war, with vivid expressions and gestures from armed soldiers at the front to the youngest child at the back.
Seoul Yongsan War Memorial
On the left is the “Brother's Prize,” which symbolizes a divided country divided into South and North. Why did brothers with the same mother be divided into South Korean and North Korean forces and aimed at each other? I am sorry for the appearance of my younger brother who is digging into my brother's arms. After passing through the large square, we enter the interior of the war memorial.
The statue of the patriotic army
Let's start our full-scale war memorial tour. In order to properly examine the War Memorial, which consists of a total of three floors, a brochure is essential. When visiting the War History Room on the 1st floor and the 6/25 War Room on the 2nd floor, it is also very helpful to listen to the cultural narrator accompanying you four times a day.
2nd floor starting point for visiting the War Memorial
On the 2nd floor, where the entrance to the War Memorial Hall is displayed, the 'Hospital Memorial Room' honors and commemorates the ancestors who devoted their lives for their homeland, and '6 · 25', which displays all the processes of the Korean War from the North Korean invasion to the Armistice Agreement in an easy-to-understand manner. There is a War Room I and II. After that, you can look back on the 3rd floor, ‘The UN Room’, ‘The Donation Room’, the ‘Overseas Deployment Room’, and the ‘Army Development Room’. The history of war on the Korean Peninsula can be seen at a glance in the “war history” on the first floor.
Adding a description of the cultural commentator gives you a chance to see
A bloody ideological battle between the same peoples, the Korean War
On August 15, 1945, World War II war criminal Japan surrendered. This ended the war and the Korean Empire was able to escape the 36-year Japanese occupation period.
The site of the excavation of the remains of the Korean War was recreated.
The joy of regaining the country for a while, despite the independence movement in the meantime, the independence by Japanese ruin pushes the Korean Peninsula into another crisis. Despite the desire for 'self-independence and sovereignty', the Korean Peninsula is divided into south and north, where the waist is cut around the 38th parallel.
Weapons used during the war
In 1948, President Syngman Rhee was elected the first President of the Republic of Korea. As an independence activist, he was a thorough anti-communist and campaigned for reunification. In North Korea, there was Kim Il-sung, who had the Soviet Union on his back.
Our air force picked up the bomb and dropped it through the window.
In this way, even before the Korean peninsula enjoyed the joy of independence, the South had a democratic and communist (divided into) Han, but had a separate national system with two ideologies.
Detonating the Han River Railway Bridge to prevent North Korean troops
One day when the big and small fights between South and North continued around the 38th parallel, the dawn of June 25, 1950, North Korea went on a surprise attack before dawn. After that, the support of the Soviet Union was promised. South Korea, which lacks proper military training and equipment, is faced with helplessness. I broke the Hangang bridge and earned time, but it was pushed to the Nakdong River defense line. However, General MacArthur's Incheon Landing Operation (September 15, 1950) returned to Seoul in three months and recaptured Pyongyang and quickly advanced to the Yalu River.
President Syngman Rhee commanded North Korea with a desire for reunification
After the unification, the ROK military forces are pushed back to the south with the intervention of the Chinese army. It is a 1 · 4 retreat. At this time, the place where the South Korean troops, UN forces and North Korean refugees escaped was the Hungnam Wharf of Hamheung. In the movie <International Market>, this is where the main character lost his father and younger sister. The bloody war on the Korean Peninsula continued until the armistice was reached in July 1953. Even now, we are in a truce.
4D realistic video room where you can experience the time when you went to the evacuation route
While listening to the explanation of the commentator, you will see the “6/25 War Room I · II Hall”. It reproduces the appearance of the war and adds realism. From the background of the North Korean military invasion to the war and the Armistice Agreement, the process is clearly displayed. In particular, the 'Incheon Landing Operation 4D Experience Hall (7 minutes of screening time, 15 people watching once)' and 4D Realistic Video Room (9 minutes of screening time, 40 people watching once) 'show severe weather through 4D video, vibration, and blizzard effects. It is popular because you can experience the difficult evacuation process yourself.
Battle scene of white horse highland
Even if you look at the center of the '6/25 War Room', the hour of commentary is over 1 hour. After inspecting the 3rd floor and the donation room where you can meet the United Nations veterans, you will be transferred to the ROK military development room and overseas deployment room. It is no longer unfamiliar to say ‘Hochon’ I bow my head to the efforts of the ancestors who fought to protect the land. Learning about the history of this land is a bonus.
Turtle ship displayed outside the war history room on the 1st floor of the War Memorial
If you visited the War Memorial Hall with your children, it would be a good idea to go to the Children's Museum after visiting the 6/25 War Room. About a day in June, how about visiting the war memorial, thinking about the country?
A war history room displaying military relics of this land
TIP. War memorial
29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul War Memorial Hall / 02-709-3139 / 9:30 a.m. ~ 6 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, closed the day after the last holiday if Monday is a holiday included) / Free of charge for permanent exhibition / 3000 won until 2 hours for a small car 1,000 won per 30 minutes)
https://www.warmemo.or.kr/front/main.do
TIP. War Memorial Children's Museum
Daily admission is limited to the number of admissions per visit, and reservations are made for 60% of online reservations and 40% on the same day (first-come, first-served basis). 15 or more advance reservations required. 9:30 a.m. ~ 6 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, closed on the day following the last holiday if Monday is a holiday included) / Free admission / 02-709-3200
※ The above information was updated in June 2019, and may be changed later, so please check before you travel.
※ The information such as text, photos and videos used in this article is copyrighted by Korea Tourism Organization, so unauthorized use of the article is prohibited.