The UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan is a park dedicated to the victims of the Korean War. It celebrates the brave soldiers of the United Nations peace troops, who gave their lives while fighting for South Korea against North Korea. The UN Memorial Cemetery opened in 1955 on land donated by the Parliament of Korea. Many of the fallen were repatriated however, those that remain stand as thought-provoking reminders of the past.
Enter via an artistic gate designed by the notable Pyongyang-born architect Kim Joong-up. It leads to a large square, which has a map of the cemetery’s themed areas and a wall engraved with the names of the interred. Inside the adjacent Memorial Hall is an exhibition of photos and artifacts that recount events of the Korean War.
Go to the Symbolic Area to see the UN flag and the flags of each of the United Nations member states that provided troops. The Main Cemetery Area is home to the largest quantity of graves. Find memorials to the Commonwealth countries, French and Turkish, among others. The U.S. memorial is inscribed with the words Honor, Freedom, Peace.
The green area is a great place to walk amid nature. Wander along the Unknown Soldiers’ Pathway and over the Thai-Korean Friendship Bridge. Pause for reflection at the UN Forces Monument and the Wall of Remembrance. Admire the flourishing flora, including azalea shrubs, cherry trees, rose bushes and silver magnolias. Spot ducks, fish, geese and turtles at the ponds.
Located in the Nam District, the cemetery is easily accessible via public buses and the metro. Take the bus from Busan Station or Seomyeon. The attraction is one of the stops on Busan’s sightseeing bus tour. Free parking is available outside the main entrance.
The UN Memorial Cemetery is open daily and admission is free. Check the cemetery’s official website for information regarding observances and remembrance events. These include April’s Tributary Ceremony of the Veterans of the Korean War, May’s U.S. Memorial Day and June’s Korean Memorial Day.
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