Hae-in Would today’s Republic of Korea exist without the UN forces who risked their lives against the communist forces during the Korean War?
Exactly 75 years have passed since the South and the North established their respective governments on the Korean Peninsula. In the meantime, South Korea has grown into one of the world’s 10th largest economies, while North Korea remains at the level of the poorest. The Korean War, which swept the Korean Peninsula for over three years, turned the entire country into ruins. What is the reason why South and North Korea, which started to rebuild the country under similar conditions, split their fates into developed and poor countries after 70 years?
The world’s only ‘United Nations’ memorial cemetery
In Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, there is UN Memorial Park where UN soldiers who died fighting to protect freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea during the Korean War are buried. It is the world’s only ‘memorial cemetery’ with the name United Nations.
Upon entering the main gate of UN Memorial Park, you will first encounter the triangular-shaped memorial hall. Designed by the famous Korean architect Kim Chung-up, the stained glass contains meanings such as the horrors of war, love and peace. A 12-minute historical documentary is screened to help understand the Korean War, the UN forces, and the UN Memorial Park.
On June 25, 1950, when the war began on the Korean Peninsula due to North Korea’s surprise invasion, the United Nations ( UN ) resolved to participate in the war under the UN flag in order to protect freedom and peace. This was the first time since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, centered on the United States and the United Kingdom, participated in the war; France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece, and Turkey in Europe; Thailand and the Philippines in Asia; 16 countries provided combat troops. Six countries, including Denmark and India, Italy and Norway, Sweden and Germany, provided medical support. The fact that 22 countries participated in the Korean War under the UN flag has historical significance in that it is the first collective action based on the basic spirit of the establishment of the UN, ‘international peace’. They fought together to protect Korea’s ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’ against the communist army.
2319 UN soldiers from 11 countries were buriedIn October 1950, as the Chinese forces participated in the war, the war prolonged and the number of casualties increased one after another. In April 1951, the United Nations Command created a UN cemetery in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, and moved the remains of the fallen soldiers temporarily buried in Gaeseong, Incheon, Daejeon, and Daegu. . It is said that the current location in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu was considered the most advantageous location for the transfer of the remains of UN forces temporarily buried throughout the country during the Korean War. Choi Gu-sik, a cultural and tourism commentator for Busan City, said, “During the Korean War, there was an airstrip in Suyeong-gu, Busan.” “The UN Cemetery was built here because Busan Station and Busan Port were close, so it was the most advantageous location for the transfer of the remains of UN forces from across the country by plane, train, and ship. ”he explained.
After the end of the Korean War, the Korean government donated 134,000 square meters of land where the UN forces were buried to the United Nations. The UN directly managed the cemetery for a while according to an agreement signed with the South Korean government. Since the UN organization that managed the cemetery withdrew in 1974, the International Management Committee, which is composed of representatives from 11 countries belonging to the UN forces buried in the UN Cemetery, has been centrally managing it.
Currently, 2,319 UN soldiers from 11 countries are buried in the UN Memorial Cemetery. By country, the British army has the most with 890, followed by Turkiye with 462, Canada with 381, Australia with 281, the Netherlands with 122, France with 47, the United States with 40, New Zealand with 32, South Africa with 11 and Norway with 1. Fifteen unknown soldiers whose nationalities and names have not been confirmed are also buried. Thirty-seven Koreans who died while serving as KATUSA Soldiers during the Korean War are also buried here.
During the Korean War, 40,898 UN soldiers died. Most of the US soldiers, who account for nearly 90% of the dead, were repatriated to their home countries after the war ended. Cultural commentator Choi Gu-sik said, “Each country has different funeral customs. The United States, which adopted the genocide principle, tries to bring the remains of American soldiers to their home countries no matter where they died in the world. Explained.
The names of all UN soldiers who died in the Korean War are engraved on stones on the memorial monument for fallen soldiers of the UN Forces. People with ‘●’ next to their names are UN soldiers whose remains were repatriated to their home countries, and ‘◆’ is the UN Memorial Cemetery. means the UN forces buried in
UN Memorial Park is divided into three areas. At the top left of the main gate of the park is the symbolic area where the UN flag, the flags of 22 participating countries, and the Taegeukgi are hoisted. Any person from home or abroad who officially visits the UN Memorial Cemetery pays respect to the soldiers who died in war.
Under the symbolic area, fallen soldiers of the UN forces who participated in the Korean War are resting. There are graveyards in seven countries, including Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to the tombs of the war dead, memorials made in each country stand in the graveyards of each country.
Symbolic Area, Main Cemetery, War Veterans CemeteryAt the bottom of the memorial park, there is a cemetery for war veterans. It was created in 2015 for veterans of the UN forces who survived the Korean War who wish to stay by their comrades after death.
Between the main cemetery and the war veterans’ cemetery, the ‘Doeunt Waterway’ runs across, separating life and death. Those who died in the Korean War are located at the main cemetery on the left side of Dount Canal, and those who survived are located at the veterans’ cemetery on the right. Doeunt was the youngest UN soldier to die at the age of 17 during the Korean War.There are two memorial halls in UN Memorial Park. The memorial hall right next to the memorial was built by the United Nations in 1968, and displays the UN flag, which was first used by the UN Command during the Korean War, as well as photos and souvenirs of the UN forces by participating country. The second memorial hall inside the UN Forces Memorial Tower, built by the South Korean government in 1978, displays photos of the deceased, as well as various souvenirs and paintings related to the deceased, provided by the bereaved family. Under the memorial tower is the Road of the Unknown Soldier. There are 11 water steps, 11 fountains, and 11 pine trees planted on each side of the road. This symbolizes the fallen soldiers from 11 countries buried in the UN Memorial Cemetery.
“They are proud”British couple Harry and Melissa visited the United Nations Memorial Park on August 1st. Said to have come to Busan via Fukuoka, Japan, to spend their summer vacation, they toured the cemeteries of fallen British soldiers and the UN Forces Memorial Tower.
“I heard that British soldiers are buried here. Their deaths are regrettable, but I am proud of them to think that Korea can exist today thanks to their sacrifices.” University students from Pukyong메이저놀이터 National University UN
supporters , dressed in matching blue T-shirts and white hats, also paid their respects. Kim Hyeon- seo, vice-director of the UN Supporters, introduced, “The Pukyong National University UN Supporters, a group affiliated with Pukyong National University, visits the UN Memorial Cemetery every month to lay flowers, read letters of worship, and express their gratitude through silent prayer.”
Right after the Korean War, the United Nations Command was created by the resolution of the UN Security Council. On August 10, President Yoon Seok-yeol invited key figures from the United Nations Command to the Yongsan Presidential Office. This is the first time that a sitting South Korean president has held a meeting with UNC officials. President Yoon said, “The United Nations Command has been playing a key role in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula since 70 years have passed since it defended a free Republic of Korea amidst the crisis of turning the tide.” The meaning is special in that it is giving,” he said. “UNC members form a global network,” said UN Commander Paul LaCamera, quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who said, “There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and fighting without them.”
The fact that we now live in a free and democratic country was possible thanks to the dedication of those who fought in the Korean War to protect the freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea from around the world.