Busan, Korea's second metropolis and a beachside port city, has many popular tourist sites. There is the Busan International Film Festival, of course, but also the Busan Fireworks Fest, the Busan Gijang Anchovy Festival and other festivals that are held year round, ready to welcome visitors to the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula.
Among Busan's many must-visit sites, there is one that is the only one of its kind anywhere in the world: the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea. About 2,300 soldiers and other people involved in the Korean War are buried at the cemetery. It was established by the United Nations Command in 1951, and in 1955, the National Assembly of Korea decided to donate the land in perpetuity.
On Dec. 15, 1955, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution noting that the U.N. would permanently manage the cemetery and in November 1959, Korea and the U.N. agreed on the establishment, management and maintenance of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea. Nowadays, the cemetery is managed by the Commission for the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (CUNMCK), which is composed of representatives from 11 countries.
Winners of the "Talk! Talk! Korea 2015" contest visited the cemetery on Oct. 22, their first destination in Busan. The "Talk! Talk! Korea 2015" contest was hosted by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), publisher of Korea.net, and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it was managed by KBS World, a local broadcaster. The goal of the contest was to promote Korea around the world. Kubra Rendecioglu from Turkey, one of the winners, laid a wreath for the 462 Turkish graves at the cemetery and together with the other winners prayed for the deceased.
Alongside the Turkish soldiers, members of the military from 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S. are also buried there. The U.K. has the largest number of soldiers, 885, buried at the cemetery.
By Jeon Han, Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han
hanjeon@korea.kr
Soldiers from the army's 53rd Division hoist the United Nations flag. The flag is hoisted every morning at 10 a.m., except for Mondays.
Among Busan's many must-visit sites, there is one that is the only one of its kind anywhere in the world: the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea. About 2,300 soldiers and other people involved in the Korean War are buried at the cemetery. It was established by the United Nations Command in 1951, and in 1955, the National Assembly of Korea decided to donate the land in perpetuity.
On Dec. 15, 1955, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution noting that the U.N. would permanently manage the cemetery and in November 1959, Korea and the U.N. agreed on the establishment, management and maintenance of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea. Nowadays, the cemetery is managed by the Commission for the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (CUNMCK), which is composed of representatives from 11 countries.
At the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, the world's only U.N. cemetery, 885 British soldiers who fought in the Korean War are buried.
Winners of the "Talk! Talk! Korea 2015" contest visited the cemetery on Oct. 22, their first destination in Busan. The "Talk! Talk! Korea 2015" contest was hosted by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), publisher of Korea.net, and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it was managed by KBS World, a local broadcaster. The goal of the contest was to promote Korea around the world. Kubra Rendecioglu from Turkey, one of the winners, laid a wreath for the 462 Turkish graves at the cemetery and together with the other winners prayed for the deceased.
Alongside the Turkish soldiers, members of the military from 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S. are also buried there. The U.K. has the largest number of soldiers, 885, buried at the cemetery.
By Jeon Han, Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han
hanjeon@korea.kr
Tomb stones and cenotaphs are set with the flags of individual countries.