Gwanghwamun Square monument to honor Korean War allies faces questions over timing, procedure

A rendering of "Garden of Gratitude" in Gwanghwamun Square / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

A row of white construction fences now cuts through the center of Gwanghwamun Square, covered with renderings of stone columns and the pledge, “We will not forget the sacrifice of 22 countries that fought for liberal democracy.”

Behind the fences and “authorized personnel only” signs, workers are racing to finish a new monument that the Seoul Metropolitan Government says will honor the country’s Korean War allies — even as critics question whether the project has been pushed through heedlessly in one of the city’s most symbolic public spaces.

The “Garden of Gratitude,” under construction near the statue of King Sejong, will feature a series of tall stone structures representing each of the 22 nations that dispatched combat troops or medical units under the U.N. flag during the 1950–53 conflict.

City officials say the site, inspired by the ceremonial “present arms” rifle salute, is meant to become a signature landmark where Koreans and international visitors can pause to remember allied sacrifices and South Korea’s transformation from a war-torn nation to one of the world's most prosperous countries.

“We felt the need for a place dedicated to honoring the countries that took part in the war. Gwanghwamun Square is already a national symbolic space, with figures like Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong representing the Joseon era. We thought there was no clear symbol of liberal democracy, and we felt it will be good to add this space to complete that picture,” a senior city official told The Korea Times.

People walk past construction fences set up around the "Garden of Gratitude" in central Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho

On the renderings posted on the fences, granite columns stand in straight rows, lit at night by a soft glow. The city's pictures portray visitors walking between them and looking down into a glass‑fronted underground hall showing exhibits about the 22 allies.

But the ambition of the project, which is expected to be completed next month, has been hindered by controversy over how it has been pursued, with some critics accusing Mayor Oh Se-hoon of moving too fast, mindful of the election calendar. The monument was originally slated for completion in 2027, but the schedule has been pushed forward so that it can open before the June 3 local elections.

“What we are seeing is the privatization of public space,” Kim Jae‑sang, secretary‑general of Cultural Action, a Seoul-based NGO, said. “The space is being reduced from a political space for citizens into a kind of showcase stage, planned and choreographed by those in power.”

For nearly two decades, the plaza has functioned not only as a ceremonial boulevard but as a gathering place where citizens can take part in Korea’s most consequential street politics, including massive candlelight protests that helped topple powerful people, including presidents.

Critics also say the city government has pushed ahead without sufficiently surveying Seoul residents about the project. In a poll released last year by the NGO Hangeul Culture Solidarity, more than 80 percent said they had no information about the project. Of those who said they were aware of it, six out of 10 said they were opposed to it.

Another hurdle to the completion of the project is the less-than-enthusiastic response from some of the 22 allied nations. The original plans call for the pillars representing each country to be made of stone from that nation. According to city officials, however, so far only nine governments have shipped stones for the monument or agreed to do so, while others remain noncommittal.

Mayor Oh seems determined to make the project one of his signature achievements. On March 30, he invited diplomats from countries that had donated stone for the project to City Hall for a luncheon, thanking them for the “warmth and sincerity” behind their gifts and promising to finish it with great care as a space that conveys “the values of freedom, democracy and peace.”

But all that may depend on the result of his reelection campaign. At a Democratic Party of Korea’s primary debate held earlier this month, Chong Won-o, the ruling party’s contender who is leading in polls, said he would “discuss ways to return the Gwanghwamun Square to its citizens,” signaling that the project could be revisited if he wins.