Dreaming of a paradise where no wars may exist, a historical War Memorial was built in an effort to review
and look back those conflicts we have experienced with candles that will give full of peaceful lights to the
global villages. The War Memorial located at Samgak-gee in Seoul and opened on 10 June, 1994 was
constructed to pay a tribute to the strong spirit of martyred patriots through the uncountable war histories.
A scene of the War Memorial overviewed from the Ministry of Defense building.
The mountain of Bukhan-san and Seoul Tower are seen far to the right.
This monumental memorial consists of a display room for the martyred, war history,
Korean War exhibition History of Expeditionary Forces, Armed Forces development and
heavy equipment display divided into two parts of indoor and outdoor exhibition facilities.
Each exhibition explains in detail regarding all kinds of the weapons, military related
materials utilized from the pre-historical age to the contemporary era and various
activities of the martyred patriots along with their vivid remains, waxes and images.
Visitors can easily access to this memorial building if they come out thru Exit#12 subway line
4 or 6 at Samgak-gee station and walk approximately 100 meters towards the main gate and then
will find huge artificial tower to the right.
The Statue of the Brothers, a South Korean army officer is hugging with tears his younger brother
who then belonged to the North Korean army when they came across during the Korean War.
A statue of the ROK soldiers is seen to the left of the artificial tower of the war.
A statue of the dynamic soldiers holding flag is seen.
The right side sculptures show the dynamic posture of the ROK Forces.
Webmaster of our English website, Jae-sung Chung poses for the camera in front of the soldiers’ statue
at the Memorial Square.
Passing the square, visitors will find all flags of the allied nations mastered to the right of the main building.
To the left of the square, all armed forces units colors are mastered and fluttered in the wind.
The main building of the War Memorial is composed of total 5 stories including a basement level,
where the room for paying a tribute to the martyred ,war histories, Korean War, History of the
Expeditionary Forces, Armed Forces Development and Heavy equipment. And some offices of military
related such as Veteran's daily, war history publishing and library are respectively annexed to this building.
These photos were taken when a demonstration practice of the army honor guards was held at the square.
Military honor guard demonstration starts at 14;00 Hrs on every Friday.
All kinds of the weapons are displayed at the outdoor exhibition.
(Enemy fire arms seized during the war are also exhibited)
To the left of the brothers statute, various air defense artillery pieces are exhibited.
Real samples of the missiles, tanks, armored carriers, choppers, bombers and transport aircrafts are displayed.
Various kinds of the real air force aircrafts operated during the Korean War are exhibited.
Beyond the scene of the aircrafts exhibited outside, some of the 8th US Army compound annex buildings are seen.
At the wall of the ground floor of the main building names of Korean soldiers and
allied forces killed in action during the Korean War 1950-1953 are engraved.
The names of the soldiers killed in action in the bitter battle field of Vietnam War are also chiseled thereof.
“The Memorial Wall” at the entrance of the ground floor.
KIA names of the Vietnam War are engraved on the black marble stone in white color.
The names of the KIA are classified by units to which the deceased belonged during the Vietnam War.
Visitors can scrutinize information of the deceased through a roster prepared.
The KIA list of the U.N. soldiers sacrificed in the battle of Korean War is engraved on the copper panel.
The status of the ROK forces killed in action.
Status of the allied forces killed in action.
Little kids of a kindergarten are taking a look in rows.
On the way up to the 3rd floor several reconnaissance aircrafts are hung around.
At 3rd floor, a space with all kinds of vivid samples and materials related to Expeditionary Forces
welcomes veterans fought in Vietnam.
A lot of miniatures show how we the Vietnam War veterans had been in the war.
The minute entering the room, we come across with the waxes of the NVA and vietcongs from
which we still feel as our hairs stand on end to some extent.
The regular fatigue of the NVA and personal gears are displayed to the left and things
for the Vietcong, north Vietnam’s flag and related pictures are shown to the right.
South Vietnamese soldier and militia and their national flag we can no longer see.
Various postures of the ROK soldiers served in Vietnam.
A mold shows a sectional diagram of an underground tunnel.
Helmet, plagues, maps and combat result reports.
Propaganda leaflets spread by North Korea during the Vietnam War.
16mm projector that presented great joys to the soldiers at war is exhibited.
A propeller mounted on the model helicopter is still swinging describing real air mobilization operation.
Operation Results conducted by the White Horse Division
Operation Results conducted by The Tiger Division.
Newspaper articles at the beginning of the Vietnam War.
The national flags of the 8 participating nations of U.S.A., Australia, Thailand,
Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand, Republic of China and Spain.
Details of the Ojakyo operation and the newspapers that heralded the triumphal victories.
Pictures of the vietcongs
Searching the caves.
Booby traps still make our hairs stand on end.
Military payment certificates used by the ROKs in Vietnam instead of the greenbacks.
Various cans were contained in the C-ration.
Canned Kimchi shipped from home country.
A company tactical base, barbed wire, OP and trenches.
An array of the South Vietnamese POWs after Saigon’s falling
Boat people escaping their country after Saigon’s falling
As this War Memorial with spacious facilities has a lot of historical things that could be a great lesson to the many,
it is recommended that especially the youngsters should visit this monument once with their parents at their convenience.
Thanks.
It is my personal pleasure as a webmaster of www.vietvet.co.kr to have this opportunity of introducing
many war related materials especially on Vietnam War to our brothers in arms living abroad.
Written and photo taken by Jin-Hyun Choi
www.vietvet.co.kr
Seoul, KOREA
