Korean Bell of Friendship

The Korean Bell of Friendship is a bell monument in San Pedro, California, set beneath a traditional Korean pavilion with a curved roof and painted wooden beams. The surface shows reliefs of dragons, flowers, and geometric patterns spread across the entire metal shell.

South Korea presented this monument to Los Angeles in 1976 for the United States Bicentennial and to honor veterans of the Korean War. The craft follows techniques from the Silla Dynasty, developed over a thousand years ago for religious ceremonies.

The name combines Korea with the word Friendship, which locals understand as a symbol of international goodwill between two nations after wartime. Visitors see the pavilion roof rising above the hillside, designed to echo temples they might find in Seoul or Busan.

The monument stands in Angels Gate Park and remains open daily from dawn to dusk, with public ringing ceremonies held on special days throughout the year. Visitors can walk around the pavilion to see details from different angles, and the open structure provides shade and a view toward the Pacific.

The alloy contains copper, tin, gold, and silver following an ancient formula once used for royal temples. When struck for special occasions, the sound produces a long, vibrating tone that carries across the coastline.