Ultimate Guide to War Memorial of Korea

The War Memorial of Korea is a massive military museum which is in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. In 1994, the former army headquarters site became a museum to display and honor the military war saga of Korea from 1950 to 1953.

Korea has been invaded innumerable times by neighboring countries in the past and this museum is the perfect place to visit. Especially if you want to know more about the military history of Korea. It pays a fitting tribute to the ancestors and the military forces who fought valiantly during the dreadful war.

This remarkable and one of the most recognized museums in Seoul is home to more than 13,000 pieces of war memorabilia, battle records, military paraphernalia, memorial statues, maps, and paintings. It also displays massive exhibits, educational and cultural programs, and even film screenings.

All You Need to Know about War Memorial of Korea

The museum is open to visitors who want to touch, feel, and see the battlefield relics. Being there can help replicate the feeling of standing in the front lines of the battlegrounds. The combat room inside the museum has audiovisual and vibration effects. It can transport the visitors to the arena of battle. Moreover, you can experience the images of war more by the smell of gunpowder in the room.

Old tanks, warplanes, and heavy artillery on the ground spark the spirit of patriotism. The sentiment of loyalty and nationalism is found in patriotic Korean music playing in the background. War Memorial of Korea is one of the top destinations in Seoul and shouldn’t be missed at any cost.

How to get to the War Memorial of Korea

For those visiting Seoul, there are three modes of transportation to reach the museum.

By subway

Takes a maximum of 10 minutes to reach to War Memorial from the Seoul Station

By taxi

Takes a minimum of three minutes to reach Seoul Station if you are commuting by taxi.

By walking

Takes at least a maximum of 33 minutes or more from Seoul Station if you are walking.

Make sure to walk around Seoul wearing masks and observing social distancing along with other Covid rules.

Opening hours

It is open from 9:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M and the last entry time is 5:30 P.M.

Entrance fees

There are no admission fees for entering the War Memorial of Korea. However, visitors have to pay for tickets if they want to view the special exhibits. The tickets can run up to $15 or more. Ticket charges are also dependent on the exchange rates.

Parking fees

Visitors have to pay up to 4,000 KRW if they want to park their car and this amount is valid for two hours only.

Korean War

Japan had ruled over Korea from 1910-to 1945 in an oppressive and ruthless way. They forbade the Koreans from using their language or exercising their culture because they wanted to weaken them as a nation. The dictatorship of Japan ends when Nagasaki and Hiroshima were hit by the atomic bomb in World War 2 in 1945, causing the Korean peninsula to be passed to the USA and the Soviet Union.

Both these superpowers distributed the peninsula in two parts with the USA announcing their military regime in the South while the Soviet Union setting up a communist government in North Korea. However, both the superpowers were bent on invading the other portion of the Korean peninsula and unifying it under one regime.

The skirmishes between the superpowers were further ignited by the Korean politicians and the volatile relationship between the South and North Korea erupted when 75,000 members from the North Korean army invaded South Korea with the support of Soviet leader Stalin. The proxy war between the two superpowers turned into a civil war that lasted for three years and consumed the lives of almost 2-4 million amongst which 70% were civilians. Although there was no signing of the peace treaty, North and South Korea along with US and China agreed to formally end the war between the two nations in 2021.

Things to see in War Memorial of Korea

The colossal War Memorial of Korea has an outdoor and indoor exhibition.

Outdoor Exhibition

The outdoor exhibitions display a mesmerizing collection of full-scale prototypes of fighting ships, helicopters, tanks, combat aircraft, field artillery, and other war paraphernalia which were from the Korean War, Vietnam War, and World War 2. The memorial walkway has the names of the soldiers hailing from the allied forces who shed their blood during the battle.

Indoor Exhibition

The indoor exhibition space covers up to 14,000㎡ and has seven core exhibition rooms which are:

• Patriots Memorial Room
• War history Room
• Korean War Room
• Expeditionary Forces Room
• Armed Forces Development Room
• Korean Defense Industries Room
• Large Equipment Room

These rooms showcase relics hailing from the prehistoric era and materials of the modern-day zone. The exhibition rooms also unveil paintings of the battlegrounds and sculptures crafted of the notable soldiers.

Korean War Exhibition

The Korean War Exhibition constitutes three halls that showcase the history of the Korean War, its progression, and its truce. Visitors can also view black and white documentary footage which chronicles the core battles and events that transpired in the Korean War.

Instagram of War Memorial of Korea

Other exhibits in the museum embrace the details of Korea’s connection with the Vietnam War, the attack of North Korean soldiers on the South, and the UN peacekeeping strategies adopted by Korea.

Visitors can also access a children’s museum outside the memorial. This museum also presents the war history of Korea and pays tributes to the national war heroes. The museum is encompassed by a play area that was used as a training ground by soldiers of the bygone era.

Conclusion

The War Memorial of Korea is a magnificent place covering a colossal area and parading a stellar war collection. There are free one-hour tours daily between 10 am to 2 pm. It takes more than three hours to completely check out the place, so it is best to arrive at the destination before 3 pm.

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