‘Like whale bones’: South Korea’s war memorial sparks conflict over symbolism

AdvertisementSouth KoreaThis Week in AsiaLifestyle & Culture‘Like whale bones’: South Korea’s war memorial sparks conflict over symbolism

Critics argue the Korean war memorial should not be in a space in Seoul long associated with pro-democracy protests and its imperial past

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Park Chan-kyongPublished: 5:12pm, 13 May 2026Gwanghwamun Square, a plaza in Seoul framed by royal palaces and monuments to Korean national identity, is at the centre of a dispute over whether a massive new Korean war memorial belongs in a public space seen as a major tourist attraction and long associated with civic gatherings and pro-democracy protests.A row of 23 stone monuments representing South Korea and the 22 foreign countries that fought alongside it during the 1950-53 war was recently unveiled at the square.

Located across from the US embassy, the monuments feature honour guards in “present arms” military posture, prompting criticism that they are a symbol of militarism in the city’s most iconic location. Each monument stands at 6.25 metres (20.5 feet), symbolising the start of the war on June 25, 1950.

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The square already contains several monuments to Korean national identity, including statues of King Sejong, the 15th century monarch credited with creating the Korean alphabet, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the revered naval commander who repelled Japanese invasions in the 16th century.

Critics argue that the new installation disrupts a space traditionally used for public gatherings, protests and leisure.

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Many tourists who were interviewed recently appeared indifferent to the sculptures clustered along one side of the square, as they took photographs in the vicinity while dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean attire.

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