Korean War memorial coming to Gwanghwamun Square
This rendered image shows a view of Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, featuring a newly created space that honors the 22 countries that participated in the 1950-53 Korean War. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
A new symbolic space honoring the countries that participated in the 1950-53 Korean War will be established at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul by the end of this year, the city government said Monday.
The city has abandoned its initial plan to install a 100-meter flagpole and will instead create a tribute featuring a media wall and sculptures representing the 22 nations that sent combat troops to the Korean War.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled its plan to create a symbolic space as part of the announcement of the winning design for the revamp of Gwanghwamun Square.
"Without the support of our allies, Korea's liberal democracy and prosperity would not have been possible," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said.
"We will create a garden of gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square, a site that has embodied the civic spirit of our nation for 600 years, to leave a lasting impression on visitors from around the world."
The city government emphasized that the project aims to commemorate the sacrifices of Korean War veterans, recognizing their role in laying the foundation for the country's prosperity while fostering international solidarity.
It also noted that Gwanghwamun Square is the ideal location for the tribute, as it is one of Seoul's iconic landmarks and a popular destination for international visitors.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, fifth from left, poses with Korean War veterans at City Hall, Monday, after announcing the city government's plan to create a symbolic space in central Seoul honoring the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The planned garden will feature sculptures with tie beams made of black granite, symbolizing the 22 nations that sent combat troops during the Korean War. Glass bridges will connect the beams, representing unity among the allied countries.
At the ground level, 22 sculptures, ranging from 5.7 to 7 meters in height, will be installed as a tribute to Korean War veterans. Each sculpture will be crafted from stones sourced from the 22 participating nations, with engravings of poems, literary works and inscriptions in their respective languages to honor the sacrifices made.
Lighting displays will also be incorporated, with the ability to be adjusted to mark the anniversaries of each country, serving as a gesture of gratitude for their contributions.
A media wall will be installed in an underground space, designed for real-time communication with the allied nations. The wall will display video footage and images highlighting scenes from the 22 countries, featuring real-time connections to select cities and prerecorded content for viewers in different time zones.
On June 25 last year, the city government announced plans to create a national symbolic space at Gwanghwamun Square, originally centered around a 100-meter-tall flagpole that would fly the Korean national flag.
However, the proposal faced criticism, with arguments that it evoked excessive patriotism and could be seen as overly nationalistic.
In response, the city reconsidered its approach and launched a design competition in September, emphasizing freedom and peace as key concepts.
With the winning design now selected, the city plans to move forward with the project and complete the installation by the end of the year.