War Memorial of Korea, Military museum in Yongsan-dong, South Korea.
The War Memorial of Korea is a light grey stone building on a low base, with two long wings flanking a taller central block topped by a shallow rounded dome. A recessed dark glass entrance under a curved green canopy, marked by a gold emblem, opens at the top of a broad stone stair. Inside are six exhibition rooms; outside, about 100 large weapons stand on the surrounding lawns.
The museum opened in 1994 on the former site of an army headquarters building. Its collections focus on Korean military history, particularly the conflict that occurred from 1950 to 1953 and its aftermath.
The black marble monuments stand not inside the halls but in the cloistered galleries flanking the main building's facade. They carry the names of about 200,000 dead from the Korean War, the Vietnam War, clashes with North Korea and police killed on duty. The memorial also runs some 20 public programs, including military band and honor guard ceremonies and a June 25 drawing contest.
The memorial opens from 09:30 to 18:00 and closes every Monday, or the day after a Monday holiday. Admission to the permanent exhibitions has been free since 2010. Reach it via Samgakji Station exit 12 on Seoul Metro lines 4 and 6. The site has three above-ground floors and two underground floors, plus an outdoor display area on the surrounding lawns.
The memorial plaza features the Statue of Brothers, depicting a South Korean soldier embracing a North Korean soldier. For many visitors, this sculpture becomes a poignant moment that captures the division of the peninsula in a single, human gesture.
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