The scars that still divide the nation
War Memorial of Korea explains them in detail
The Statue of Brothers
By Jung Min-ho
The Korean War ended more than 60 years ago, but painful memories live on.
The war, in which more than 1.5 million people were killed, still divides the nation far more deeply than by just South and North.
Many South Korean elders remain heartbroken over the loss of their loved ones, and having grown up listening to the experiences of their elders, most young people are familiar with their sorrow and hatred toward North Korea.
How they think and feel about the war, which has been the single most important event for Korea since its independence from Japan, still profoundly influences the nation’s politics and culture.
This is why the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, is the best place to learn about the division of Korea.
The museum was opened in 1994 to remember the great sacrifices of war veterans and how much they wanted peace, displaying more than 13,000 memorabilia and military items in its six halls.
In the Combat Experience Room, visitors can experience lifelike battles during the war with special effects, video, sound, cannon smoke and the smell of gunpowder.
The best part of the museum is the sophisticated way it personalizes and humanizes stories. Visitors don’t just learn how the war progressed with historical evidence but also feel, for example, what it was like for teenagers to leave their families behind to join the bloody war.
At the Exhibition Hall of Donated Relics, visitors can see the pictures of veterans and letters to their families. Video interviews about their memories of the war are also available.
A large part of the museum is dedicated to appreciating those who came to Korea as part of United Nations forces, honoring their sacrifices and their fight against the forces of North Korea, China and the Soviet Union.
Works of art are also displayed. One of them is “The Drop,” which is made with iron paying tribute to everyone who lost their lives in the war.
Pictures of Korean War veterans and their families are displayed at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, central Seoul. / Korea Times photos by Jung Min-ho
Although the museum focuses mainly on the Korean War, it is not the only event visitors can see there. Exhibits show how different wars have affected the history of Korea since the era of Gojoseon, an ancient Korean kingdom, displaying various weapons from prehistoric times to the modern period as well as paintings of battlefields and sculptures of notable warriors.
For visitors with children, the museum has a large outdoor exhibit in which they are allowed to touch and climb life-sized ships, tanks and missiles.
There is a beautiful garden area around the museum, where visitors can picnic next to an artificial waterfall and monuments. One of them is the Statue of Brothers, which depicts the story of two brothers who fought in the war on opposite sides and accidently met on the battlefield. It symbolizes the wishes for peace and unification, which seem distant more than six decades after the painful war.
The War Memorial of Korea is one of the best museums Seoul offers those who want to learn about the nation’s history in depth.
For those who are interested in learning more, they can go to the National Museum of Korea, which boasts the biggest collection of Korean history and art in the same district. In the Jongno District, central Seoul, they can find the National Folk Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History as well as the Seoul Museum of History.
Visit visitseoul.net for more information.