National Cemetery 20170224

 

National Cemetery

 Established in 1955, 356-acre wide, Seoul National Cemetery is Korea's most hallowed burial ground. It honors 176,000 fallen independence fighters, soldiers, and prominent civlians to whom the citizens of Korea today owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for the freedom they enjoy.

 Across the compound frome the main gate stand the Memorial Gate(Hyeonchungmun)and the Memorial Tower(Hyeonchungtop). Tables of 104,000 men of merit including soldiers of the Korean War who remain missing in action are housed in the Memorial Tower and outside the eastern gate. Kept below the Memorial Tower are the ashes of 6,000 unknown soldiers of the Korean War.

 In the graveyard are the remains of 54,000 souls arranged in groups by rank, including the leaders of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, patriots, prominent civilians, soldiers, police officer, and veterans. On some hills overlooking the cemetery are the tombs of Presidents Rhee Syng-man, Park Chung-hee, Kim Dae-jung, and Kim Young-sam. Some 11,000 urns holding the ashes of cremated soldiers ard housed in the Charnel House.

 Films on the heroic lives of the independence fighters and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country are shown in Hyeonchunggwan Hall, where a variety of ceremonies are often performed. The Relics Exhibition Hall displays relics of partriotic deeds. Throughout the cemetery are monuments erected in memory of the noble sacrifices of Korea's heroes.

 Visitors are requested to dress appropriately and to maintain restrained decorum out of respect for souls laid to rest here.

 

Momorial Tower(Hyenchungtap)

 

 This memorial wholely symbolizes the loyalty and service of all the patriots and heroes buried in the Seoul National Cemetery for their devotion and sacrifice for their country and peple.

 Engraved inside the momorial are the memorial tables of 104,000 fallen soldiers of the Korean War whose remains could not be found. Enshrined in the underground charnel below the Yeonghyeonseungcheonsang (the status of souls raised to the heaven) are the ashes of 7,000 unknown soldiers of the Korean War.

 To the left of the memorial is the statue of patriots fighting for their country. and on the right is the statue of heroes who defended their country.

 Visitors are requested to dress appropriately and to maintain a restrained decorum out of respect for the souls laid to rest here.

 

 

Hohookjong (The Defense Bell of the Fatherland

 The Hogookjong was created on May 8, 1973 by the Korean Veterans Association(KVA). KVA handed over it to the Seoul National Memorial Board on May 11,2008. Funded by contributions from the members of the Korean Veterans Association, the Hogookjong commemorates the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for their Fatherland, and symbolizes the nation's prayers for the heavenly bliss of the war hero's souls. The Defense Bell weights 2 tons, is 1.22 metes in diameter and 1.74 meters in hight. The former President Park Chung Hee named it the "Hogookjong" and left his own handwriting on the Defense Bell to last for eternity.

 To house the bell, the Ministry of National Defense erected a 9.2 square meter hexagonal pavilion in a classical Korean style with distinctive roof tiles.

 The Hogookjong is rung 22 times by the Korean Veterans Association at the annual Memorial Ceremony of the Korean War on June 25th. The 22 rings commemorate the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War; 16 in combat, five in medical support, and, of course, the Republic of Korea.