Korean War Memorial, Seoul

Learning about the history of a country makes for a conscious and respectful traveller. The Korean War Memorial in the capital city of Seoul offers an insightful education into this turbulent period as well as creating a poignant monument to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives between 1950-53.

Exterior of main museum

Located in the Itaewon area of Seoul and easily accessible on the subway, the memorial is an outside area consisting of a number of large statues commemorating the war. The statues give individual recognition to all of the many countries who constituted the United Nation forces, who took part in the action.

Indoors, a huge, modern, museum gives a detailed explanation as to why and how the war happened. The multilingual displays are easy to follow and the museum exhibits a number of interactive displays. The highlight of the museum is a 4D immersive cinema experiences which demonstrates different elements of the war. It’s incredibly hands on, including experience the sensation of flying on an American landing craft, being high in the mountains with the South Korean forces and feeling the winter snow fall on you. A must for any tourist and suitable for all ages.