The War Memorial of Korea: A Must Visit & FREE Museum In Seoul

Where once the Korean Infantry held their headquarters now sits the War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관), a museum that is free for the public to appreciate and learn. Not only is this a great stop for the budget minded traveler to Seoul, Korea, but it’s really a must visit for anyone that wants to learn more about the history of the country with specific regards to war. The memorial and museum have a TON of information and it’s an easy stop to make just down the street from the popular Itaewon district of Seoul.

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How To Get To The War Memorial of Korea

Address: Yongsan-gu Itaewon-ro 29 (서울특별시 용산구 이태원로 29 )

By Public Transportation: Make sure to have your T-Money card purchased and topped off to make getting around Seoul easier. You can use it on the buses and subways below.

By Bus: 110A, 110B, 421, 740 all stop just in front of the War Memorial.

By Subway: Go to Samgakji Subway Station. Go out of exit 12 and walk straight to find the entrance to the War Memorial.

PRO TIPS: If you’ll be traveling via the Seoul City Hop On/Hop Off Bus, know that it also stops here. You can buy the ticket for this bus here. And to get more information about the bus, here is a guide to the Hop On/ Hop Off Bus In Seoul. Also look into getting the Discover Seoul Pass which is made specifically for tourists to help them see the top spots. Though you don’t need it to see this museum because it’s free, it will get you into some other awesome spots in the city.

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What To Know About The War Memorial Of Korea

Admission: Free

Hours: 9:30am ~ 6:00pm

Days: Open every day except Mondays. If Monday is a holiday, the museum will be closed Tuesday.

Amenities: Foreign language guides available in English, Chinese and Japanese

Website: https://www.warmemo.or.kr/

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What You’ll Find In The War Memorial

Visitors entering from the front are welcomed into the 20,000 square meter museum by The Korean War Monument commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire. Once past this monument visitors have two options, they can walk up the steps into the Peace Plaza which leads to the six story Memorial Hall to learn more in depth information about the wars that ravaged Korea, or they can walk around the outdoor exhibition area with about 160 pieces including aircraft, armored vehicles and more. The outdoor space is definitely a great spot to let any kiddos in the group run around and see planes and other military vehicles.

If you are interested in large vessels and military vehicles, definitely check out the Seoul Battleship Park with an awesome ship sitting in the Han River that you can visit. You can also visit the Jinpo Maritime Theme Park in Gunsan, Korea and see a large collection of vintage tanks, historical artillery, combat planes, and warships.

Including the war machines outside, there are more than 13,000 pieces of war memorabilia and military equipment on the grounds of the War Memorial. The indoor space of the museum is divided into seven halls: The Memorial Hall, The War History Room, The Korean War Room, The Expeditionary Forces Room, The Armed Forces Room, The Large Equipment Room and The Korean Defense Industries Room. Each room is full of real and replica artifacts, dioramas, records and videos sure to educate and slightly overwhelm any visitor. Placards are posted in both Korean and English.

Anyone that wishes to have a better understanding of the Korean War specifically should not miss this museum. It is a must visit for anyone staying in or visiting Korea. Guides, many of whom are retired Korean military personnel, will take visitors around on tours of the space at no charge and if unavailable there are audio tours available as well. The information is overwhelming, but as history should never be forgotten so as it’s not repeated, this museum is a complete necessity and a hole in one as far as impact on visitors is concerned.

Another great place to go to get a different perspective on the wars and effects on Korea is the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum. It’s located near Hongdae and has a lot of information on the comfort women, or halmoni that are still fighting to educate the public today.

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What You Can Visit Nearby

• Hannam-dong: This foreigner friendly district is home to numerous embassies, great cafes and restaurants as well as some beautiful art museums that are a must see. Find more information about Hannam-dong here.
• Seoullo: Visit the once busy overpass near Seoul Station that has now been converted into a pedestrian friendly walkway. There is a must see installation in Malli-dong that most people miss and the walkway is covered in beautiful plants too. Here is a guide to Seoullo.
• Gongdeok District: This often overlooked neighborhood is just up the road and is home to interesting cafes and restaurants and some local markets that have some great eats. Don’t miss this area if you’re so close.
• Noryangjin Fish Market: After visiting the museum, head to the most popular fish market in the city for dinner. You can walk through the market and then head upstairs to eat eat eat.

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This is just one of the free museums in the city that are just stunning and great for visitors. If you’re interested in other budget friendly things to do in Seoul, check out this guide to the best free things to do in Seoul.

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