War Memorial of Korea

The War Memorial of Korea is a large museum of military history on the former site of the Army Headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. It covers the wars fought on the Korean Peninsula from the Three Kingdoms period to the present, above all the Korean War, and outside, tanks, aircraft and other heavy equipment stand in rows on the lawns. Entry is free and the collection is large, which makes it a good starting point for understanding modern Korean history.

History: lessons of war for the sake of peace

Plans took shape when a committee for the memorial was formed in September 1988; the groundbreaking ceremony followed on 28 September 1990. The building was completed in December 1993 and opened on 10 June 1994. Its stated aim is to prevent war through the lessons of the Korean War and to work for peaceful reunification. The main building has three floors above ground and two below.

What to see

• Indoor galleries: the Memorial Hall, War History Room, Korean War Room, Expeditionary Forces Room, ROK Armed Forces Room and Large Equipment Room. Of about 33,000 objects in the collection, some 10,000 are on display through originals, dioramas, paintings and film.
• Korean War Room: follows the war from its causes through the fighting to the armistice, with interactive installations.
• Large indoor exhibits: a full-size replica turtle ship, and tanks and aircraft from the Korean War. You can also see the Cadillac used by President Syngman Rhee and a limousine once used by Kim Il Sung.
• Outdoor exhibition: about 100 large weapons from many countries, including a B-52 bomber, a K-1 tank, howitzers, missiles, helicopters and transport aircraft.
• Memorial walls: the cloisters on both sides of the main building are lined with black stones carrying the names of more than 200,000 Korean and UN soldiers killed in action.
• Statue of Brothers: an older brother in South Korean uniform embraces his younger brother, a North Korean soldier, a symbol of the divided peninsula.

Good to know

The memorial is more than a display of objects. Throughout the year it hosts military band and honour guard performances, a Children's Day festival and Korean War commemorations, along with education programmes for children and adults. It also honours the countries that sent troops to the Korean War, so visiting heads of state and defence officials often come here. Special exhibitions change regularly; check the official website before you go.

Tripto tips

• Hours: 09:30–17:40 (last entry 17:00).
• Closed: every Monday. When a holiday period includes a Monday, the museum closes on the day after the holidays instead; also closed on 1 January and on the days of Seollal and Chuseok.
• Admission: the permanent exhibitions are free; some hosted exhibitions charge separately.
• Getting there: about 3 minutes on foot from Samgakji Station exit 12 (Lines 4 and 6), 5 minutes from exit 1, or about 10 minutes from Namyeong Station exit 1 (Line 1). The car park gets crowded at weekends, so public transport is the better choice.
• Rules: no flash, tripods or selfie sticks, no food, and no pets except guide dogs.
• Time needed: the indoor galleries alone take about 2 hours; allow 2–3 hours with the outdoor exhibition.