Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Living memory: How Busan connected with world during Korean War
The U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Korea, located in Nam District, Busan, is the final resting place for more than 2,300 U.N. service members from 14 countries. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
By Park Jin-hai
Busan is seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for its role as wartime capital
BUSAN — "This is the only United Nations memorial cemetery in the world," said Hwang Sun-bi, an official from the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan's Nam District, Tuesday.
"Tomorrow, a sacred ritual will unfold here. In accordance with their final wishes, two French veterans of the Korean War will return to be laid to rest alongside the very comrades they fought beside decades ago, reunited at last in a solemn burial ceremony."
Today, the vast memorial grounds are alive with color, blanketed in fully bloomed azaleas and seasonal flowers that soften the weight of the history kept here. This is the eternal home of more than 2,300 U.N. soldiers hailing from 14 different countries across the globe. Their stories span generations and continents — embodied poignantly by Australia’s Pvt. James Daunt, the youngest laid to rest here at the tender age of 17.
Operating under international stewardship, this site is an island of memory, permanently etching the spirit of international solidarity into the earth.
"Our goal is to make sure the flowers never fade, no matter the season," the official said. "Those who sacrificed everything for this country deserve nothing less than to rest in a landscape of endless spring."
The Wall of Remembrance is inscribed with the names of 40,897 fallen soldiers from 17 countries. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
In the Symbolic Area of the park, the flags of the 22 nations that fought for South Korea's freedom and peace flutter in the wind. Behind sculptures representing the eternal flame and a broken combat helmet in an artificial pond stands the Wall of Remembrance, inscribed with the names of 40,897 fallen soldiers from 17 countries.
The memorial hall also features the first U.N. flag used during the 1950-53 Korean War by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Nearby, a small blue sticker catches the eye — it was placed there by an actual veteran who unexpectedly spotted his younger self in one of the archival photographs.
During the dark days of the Korean War, Busan transformed into a bustling sanctuary where nearly a million refugees converged alongside international organizations, U.N. troops and humanitarian aid groups. "Busan was far from an isolated city of refugees," said Hwang. "It was a vibrant international hub directly linked to the wider world."
"When the fighting intensified and everything hung on the final Nakdong River defense line, Busan was almost the last stronghold left standing. Yet, this place beautifully illustrates that the city was never truly cut off; it was connected to the global community," she explained. "When we remember that our existence today is owed to the 22 nations that journeyed from afar to safeguard South Korea's freedom and peace, this site emerges as an indispensable cornerstone of our cultural heritage."
A small blue sticker is placed by the actual veteran who unexpectedly spotted his younger self in one of the archival photographs on display at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
This July, the cultural world will turn its eyes to Busan as it hosts the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session — the first time the event has ever been held in Korea.
And there could be no better host than Busan, as it is currently working to weave its own history into the fabric of world heritage.
Few remember that for 1,023 days during the Korean War, Busan was the beating heart of the nation, serving as its temporary capital. The city's ambitious "Busan as the Wartime Capital" initiative — linking 11 distinct sites that tell a remarkable story of governance under fire, humanitarian refuge and global alliance — seeks UNESCO status by 2030.
In a poignant preview ahead of the convention, journalists were invited to two of the most symbolic sites: the U.N. Memorial Cemetery and the former U.S. Embassy/Information Service.
Former U.S. Embassy/Information Service
Though it may appear to be an ordinary colonial-era structure at first glance, the former U.S. Embassy/U.S. Information Service carries the same historical resonance.
Erected in 1929 as the Busan branch of the Oriental Development Company, the building transitioned into the U.S. Information Service after Korea’s liberation, and eventually became the U.S. Embassy when the Korean War erupted. Throughout the war and the decades that followed, it stood as a crucial conduit for diplomacy and aid, bridging the gap between the Korean government, Washington, U.N. agencies and the wider world.
The U.S. Embassy/U.S. Information Service, which now operates as the Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum Annex, is part of the city's "Busan as the Wartime Capital" initiative seeking UNESCO World Heritage status. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
Today, the architecture evokes the very spirit of the liberal democracy that people risked their lives to protect during the war.
"This was the absolute epicenter of Busan’s historic downtown. During the height of the Cold War, it served as a beacon for introducing and promoting liberal democracy," said a museum official. Standing quietly in the modern cityscape, it serves as a powerful reminder of a time when the world came together.
Ultimately, the "Busan as the Wartime Capital" project chooses not to frame its narrative around the grim scars of conflict. Instead, it seeks to anchor its Outstanding Universal Value for UNESCO status in the city’s extraordinary resilience — how it sustained state functions under fire, sheltered a million refugees alongside its own residents and confronted a staggering humanitarian crisis through global alliances and international relief.
This narrative unfolds across the 11 interconnected landmarks. In addition to the two sites mentioned, Camp Hialeah stands as another testament to international solidarity. Meanwhile, the makeshift homes of Ami-dong Tombstone Village and Uam-dong Cattle Shed Village speak quietly of human survival, and Pier 1 of Busan Port remains the historic gateway that welcomed refugees, U.N. forces and lifesaving aid.
Ahn Young-shin, head of Busan’s Cultural Heritage Division, gives a presentation on the city's "Busan as the Wartime Capital" initiative at the Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum Annex, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
Sites like the Temporary Government Complex, Temporary Presidential Residence, Yeongdo Bridge, Bokbyeongsan Reservoir and Korea Meteorological Administration reflect the administrative backbone and everyday infrastructure of the era. They are the living imprints of an urban lifeline that kept both a nation and its people alive during the darkest of times.
"Those sites are not a mere monument to conflict," said Ahn Young-shin, head of Busan’s Cultural Heritage Division. "Instead, they are a living heritage that carries the profound values of global solidarity and human coexistence."
Kang Dong-jin, a professor at Kyungsung University, noted that Busan is a city that tenderly held all the complex trauma left in the wake of the Korean War.
"The archives offer academic proof that the Korean War catalyzed the most flourishing period of international humanitarian relief the world has ever seen — and the historic stage for that extraordinary global effort was right here in Busan."