Korean War Veterans Memorial, War memorial at National Mall, United States.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is a monument on the National Mall in Washington honoring those who served in the conflict between 1950 and 1953. The soldier statues walk in a line across open ground flanked by low stone walls, accompanied by a polished granite panel that reflects their forms and visually doubles the group to 38 figures.
Construction began in the early 1990s after years of planning and debate over design and location. Dedication took place on July 27, 1995, exactly 42 years after the armistice that ended active combat on the Korean peninsula.
The United Nations Wall north of the statues lists the 22 member states, including the U.S. and South Korea, that contributed troops or medical support under the United Nations Command. Inscriptions by the Pool of Remembrance give casualties for both U.S. and U.N. forces: 54,246 American dead and 628,833 U.N. dead. Three bushes of the Rose of Sharon, South Korea's national flower, grow on the south side.
The site stays open around the clock and sits near the western end of the National Mall between monuments to other conflicts. The nearest metro stop is Smithsonian, from which a short walk leads through open parkland to the location.
The reflection of the 19 statues on the granite surface creates the visual effect of 38 figures, a deliberate reference to the 38th parallel that divided Korea. At night, spotlights cast shadows on the wall, making the group appear even larger and enhancing the visual effect.
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