Exchange In Dong-A University ( Korea ) 동아대학교: September 2008

Yesterday 29th Sep 2008, i was busy uploading photos the whole day! Did nothing much other than the normal studying and using of computer.. haha.. today is just another normal school day for me. Felt tired.. perhaps it's because of the mountain climbing on sunday?

Anyway today i went to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery In Korea ( UNMCK ) after my lessons!

Took a few photos in the UN Sculpture Park:

There's actually more sculpture, but i don't have time to take a shot at all of them.. hmm.. Went in the UNMCK through the East Gate instead..

And this is the United Nation Memorial Cemetery. It is the world's unique UN cemetery designated by the UN. This holy ground is dedicated to peace and freedom of the world.

Can u see the flag flying?

This is the front wall

And this is what was written on the back wall:

Memorabilia Hall

The exhibit in the hall includes the first UN flag used by the UN Command during the Korean War, a variety of UN troop pictures taken during the war and related memorabilia. The photos and memorabilia are exhibited in alphabetical order of the UN nations participated in the war.

Photos of the UNMCK in the past, other Korean War related memorials and monuments in Korea and around the world, and photos of the VIPs ( Prime Minister of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britian, and Turkey, etc ) visiting the UNMCK are also exhibited in the hall.

The UN flag:

The toilet is clean as well! Very classy look..

Memorial Service Hall

It was designed by a Korean Architect, Mr. Joong-up Kim, and built in 1964. Its triangular, geometric support columns symbolically represent eternal tributes paid to the fallen UN troops. Its stained glass symbolizes apostles of peace, sublimation, tragedies of war, love and peace. Splended stained glass and soft interior lighting blend well together to express the fallen's desire for peace.

DAUNT Waterway

The waterway is named in honor of JP DAUNT, an Australian soldier who fell at the age of 17 on 6 November 1951. He is the youngest fallen resting at the UNMCK.

Military support by 16 countries: USA, UK, Turkey, Canada, Australia, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Colombia, Greece, Thailand, Ethiopia, Philippines, Belgium, Luxembourg

Medical support by 5 countries: Norway, Denmark, India, Italy, Sweden

Wall of Remembrance

Engraved in the wall are the names of all fallen UN troops during the Korean War ( 25 June 1950 ~ 27 July 1953 ), 40896 names in all.

The round pond signifies the Universe, and the reflection on the pond represents the sky, the fallen and the beholders of the pond becoming united as One.

The helmet ( bottom right ) in the pond symbolizes War while the flowers in the other side of the pond ( middle left ) represent sublimation from War to Peace.

The Eternal Flame pays tribute to all the fallen and expresses its eternal wish for a world-wide peace.

Finally the 21 Fountain Spewers represents the 21 UN nations participated in the Korean War.

Looking at the back of the Wall of Remembrance:

UN Forces Monument

It was constructed in 1978 and refurbished in 2007. The front wall is sculpted with doves representing peace and its Korean name written by then-Present, H..E. Cheong-hee Park.

Inscribed on the copper plates on the walls are the support provided by the UN nations and the number of their fallen during the Korean War.

Notice the Carabot Exhibition Hall accidentally!

It is named after the oldest fallen interred at the UNMCK, Mr. P. Carabot, a British soldier who died at the age of 54 in the Korean War. Along with a permanent, panel exhibition of photos of the falled buried at the UNMCK, which are provided to the UNMCK by the bereaved family members of the heros, various related memorabilia are also exhibited. Special, thematic exhibitions: winning extries of writing, painting, photo and other contests sponsored by the UNMCK are held year round.