Situated in Busan, United Nations Memorial Cemetery is the world’s sole cemetery by United Nations, where the fallen brave souls during Korean War are resting. Laid out over 14 hectares (35 acres), these 2,300 graves would make you think over how cruel wars are and how many lives were 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), Daeyeon station (대연/213), Exit 3 > about 18-min walk (1.2 km or 0.75 mile)
Bus: No. 68, 134, 138 or 138-1 at UN Memorial Cemetery/Busan Cultural Center bus stop (유엔공원/부산문화회관)
Parking
Free parking up to 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, ₩1,200/hr
Visitor Rule
Since the place is sacred home for fallen soldiers, behave accordingly. Also, food is not allowed.
Contact
Call: +82 051-625-0625
Website: https://unmck.or.kr
(Information in this post is based on a visit in 2019 July.)
The Korean War
The Korean war is one of the saddest parts, if not the saddest, during modern Korean history. The war, called as 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, twenty two countries of United Nations sent soldiers and aids to help South Korea, and unfortunately many of young lives were taken in order to defend peace and freedom for 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 are arranged in 22 sites designated by the nationalities of the soldiers at United Nations Memorial Cemetery.
United Nations Memorial Cemetery
The cemetery begins from the main gate dedicated by Busan citizens in 1966 to pay tribute to the UN soldiers. After you pass 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. You will find a couple of ponds and serene water fountain with a unique design during your walk. The cemetery is surrounded by Peace Park (평화공원) that makes your 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 forget about the war and will not stop paying our gratitude to who sacrificed their lives.
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