Written by Tristan McKeough and Ashlyn Walter
Planning a trip to Seoul or already in the city, looking for something to do? Look no further than the War Memorial of Korea, an expansive museum located in the center of Seoul, dedicated to educating visitors about the conflicts related to the Korean Peninsula, honoring those who fought in the Korean War, and displaying artifacts from various conflicts in South Korea’s history.
The War Memorial of Korea is an ideal destination for students, families, history enthusiasts, and even the average traveler. There is so much to see inside the building that everyone can find something that interests them.
Open Hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 09:30-18:00
Entry: Free
Free Guided Tours (English)
- The Korean War Room 1 – 10:00, 14:00
- The Korean War Room 2 – 10:30, 14:30
Since it’s free, there is no reason to miss out on visiting the War Memorial of Korea. When entering, after making your way into the building and up to the second floor, you are met with the Memorial Hall, featuring three different exhibits which honor Korea’s spirit, sacrifice, and resilience, reflecting national pride, the memory of fallen heroes, and the enduring strength of the Korean people.
The first floor of the Memorial contains the War History Rooms (I and II). These two winding rooms take up the entirety of the first floor and exhibit the history of the Korean people’s resistance to foreign aggressions since the prehistoric age. The two rooms also display a variety of historical military equipment.
From prehistoric ages to the Three Kingdoms period, into the Korean Empire and the eventual Japanese Occupation period, the first floor is a sight to see on its own. Though you could spend hours upon hours reading the array of displays, there is more content to be seen on the other floors.
Moving further into more recent history, Floor 2 contains The Korean War Room I and II. These two rooms detail in depth the history of North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, the progress of the Korean War up to the Armistice Agreement, and once more display a breadth of historical artifacts from the Korean War.
Walking through these two rooms, visitors can see and read about the history of the tension leading up to North Korea’s unprovoked attack on South Korea, the timeline of the years of the Korean War, the support and aid given to South Korea by the United States and the UN, the impact of China and USSR’s involvement with North Korea, and the eventual resulting Armistice Agreement that was signed ending the war in 1953.
Continuing up to the Third floor, the Korean War Room III presents itself. This room, one half of the third floor, details the UN’s participation in the Korean War. There are exhibits that honor every country that provided aid to the people of South Korea during the Korean War. Various artifacts and materials are on display, illustrating the support and aid provided in the war and efforts by each of the participating allied nations in the Korean War. This half of the Third Floor also contains the North Korean Military Provocation Room and an Exhibition Hall for Donated Artifacts.
As visitors move to the second half of the Third Floor, they can take a look at the Expeditionary Forces Room and the ROK Armed Forces Room. These rooms feature exhibitions on the deployment of ROK troops overseas and their activities to contribute to world peace, as well as exhibiting the history and weapons used by the ROK Armed Forces.
Displays covering the ROK Armed Forces’ involvement in the Vietnam War, the war in the Middle East, and Africa can be seen. There is also an exhibit that features the future of the ROK Armed Forces and how they are constantly growing and adapting to the changing military environment around the globe.
Finally, there is a wide assortment of military vehicles, including aircraft, tanks, artillery weapons, and more, both inside on the ground floor and outside near the Children’s Museum. Since these are also free to see, it’s recommended that visitors take a look. A highlight of this section is the Presidential State Car of Syngman Rhee and the Limousine of Kim Il Sung. Outside, there are several tanks, troop transport vehicles, boats, and aircraft that you can either peer into the windows of or take a step into.
Directions
Phone: +82-2-709-3114
Address: 29, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Subway Information:
It is easily reachable from the subway by taking line 4 from Seoul Station to Samgakji Station and exiting at exit 2, and walking around 150 meters in the direction of Yongsan Family Park, you’ll be there!
If you would like to learn about more places to visit in South Korea, feel free to visit our website adventurekorea.com or email us at info@adventurekorea.com!
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