United Nations Memorial Cemetery

On Saturday, Kat and I were supposed to go to Beomeo Temple in northern Busan, but we didn’t. it was rainy in the morning, and we were worried about climbing a mountain in the rain, so we made changed our plans. Seeing as it was Remembrance Day (November 11th) in Canada, we visited the UN Memorial Cemetery. Though we didn’t get to do what we were planning, I got to scratch the cemetery off my “Korean To-Do List.”

I felt quite solemn when I walked through the front gates. There is a sign with the rules listed: Be quiet, keep your clothing proper, do not exercise, do not bring in food or pets, keep off the grass, don’t litter, and if you are found making noise you will be asked to leave. These rules are in order to preserve the dignity and respect of a place like this, something that I think is very important too.

Above you can see the main entrance. Listed on this wall are the number of casualties for each country that was a part of the United Nations Forces in the Korean War (1950-53). There are 378 Canadian soldiers interred in Busan, though there were 516 deaths.


I wasn't expecting to feel the way i did when i saw all the graves... i've always had a strange soft spot for people who died in the name of freedom. Call me cheesy or whatever you will, but many of these graves are those of mere boys, mostly between the ages 18 and 21.

Kat asked me at one point if i could imagine what it must have been like to be at war in this country. all i could say was no. it is unfathomable, unless you have experienced it, to have any idea what war is like, and i'm not gonig to try and pretend that i do. i am lucky enough to come from a country that has never been afflicted with civil war, strife, or even major terrorist action. and that is, in part, thanks to the brave souls - like the ones here - who gave their life so that i would know freedom.
every grave has a marker with names, dates, country of origin, and rank. they also have a rose bush and a hedge-like bush next to them.

The Wall of Remembrance commemorates the 996, 937 UN Forces casualties of the Korean war.
i've seen these kinds of monuments on TV, but this was the first time that i came face to face with so many thousands of names.
you can see the length of the wall in the reflection of the photo to the left. behind that there was another massive wall with just as many names on it.




"Canadian Veterans of the Korean War dedicated a memorial statue designed by Mr. Vincent R. Courtenay, the Canadian Veteran, on November 11, 2001, of which the soldiers depicted have no helmet or weapon, nor unit insignia. It symbolizes a national characteristic of Canadian, which is to embrace all humanity regardless of personality or formality. 21 maple leaves and roses of Sharon, national symbols of Canada and Korea, held by the boy and girl express the 21 missing Canadian soldiers." (source: UN Memorial Cemetery website)

i know this is really sappy, but i feel really proud that i was able, in my own little way, to pay homage on Remembrance Day.

The Buddhist temple in Beomeo will always be there, but November 11th is only once a year, and i'm really happy that it rained in the morning.