Situated in Busan, United Nations Memorial Cemetery is the world’s sole cemetery by United Nations, where the fallen souls during the Korean War are resting. Laid out over 14 hectares (35 acres), these 2,300 graves get you to think over how cruel war is and how many lives have to be sacrificed to defend peace and freedom.
Location
93, UN Pyeonghwa-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 48529
Hours
> Open 365 Days
> May-Sep: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
> Oct-Apr: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission
Free
Directions
Subway: Line 2 (Green Line), Get off at Daeyeon station (대연/213), Exit 3 > about 18-min walk (1.2 km or 0.75 miles)
Bus: No. 68, 134, 138 or 138-1, Get off at UN Memorial Cemetery/Busan Cultural Center bus stop (유엔공원/부산문화회관)
Parking
Free parking for up to 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, ₩1,200/hr
Visitor Rule
Since the place is a sacred home for fallen soldiers, behave accordingly. Also, food is not allowed.
Contact
Call: +82 051-625-0625
Website: https://unmck.or.kr
The Korean War
The Korean war is one of the saddest parts, if not the saddest, in the modern history of the Korean peninsula. The war also called 6.25 (yugioh) widely among South Koreans lasted for three years between 1950 and 1953. It took countless Korean lives, but Koreans were not the only sacrifice that the war required.
During the war, 22 countries of the United Nations sent soldiers and aids to help South Korea. Unfortunately, as a result, many young soldiers lost their lives in order to defend the peace and freedom of the people of the country that many of them probably would not have even heard of before. In order to honor these fallen souls, 2,300 graves lie down in 22 sites arranged by the nationality of the soldiers at United Nations Memorial Cemetery.
United Nations Memorial Cemetery
At the front of the cemetery, there stands the main gate that Busan citizens contributed to commemorate the UN soldiers in 1966. After the main gate and the plaza, you will see the Memorial Service Hall. The triangular shape of the building symbolizes eternity, and it also represents various religious faiths held by the soldiers from all different cultures.
The cemetery is the place to cherish the lost soldiers, and at the same time, it’s a beautiful park to walk around while remembering and honoring those souls. The place has tranquil trails surrounding the graveyard, and it is very well maintained. Peaceful ponds and a serene water fountain with a unique design will calm you down. Peace Park (평화공원) surrounds the cemetery, which makes your walking route even better.
Winston Churchill said, “a nation forgets its past has no future.” Although it is a painful part of Korean history, Koreans will not either forget the war or stop paying our gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for us.
In The Neighborhood of UN Memorial Cemetery
United Nations Memorial Cemetery is surrounded by Peace Park (평화공원). Busan Cultural Center (부산문화회관), one of Busan’s major cultural complexes for performances and exhibitions, is right across the street.
If you are a fan of Korean noodles, Gongwon Kalguksu is across from the parking lot.
National Memorial Museum of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation (국립일제강제동원역사관) is within a walking distance as well. The museum was established in order to remember and learn about the history of the Japanese Occupation period. Right next to the museum, there stands United Nations Peace Memorial Hall (유엔평화기념관). The hall is a memorial facility commemorating the UN Forces who died for the freedom and peace of Korea and promoting various projects related to world peace.
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