Exactly last year, I had the chance to visit Seoul. I’ve always wanted to visit the DMZ, but it seems that I had to book myself into a group tour and undergo some sort of orientation before I could go there. For the meanwhile, being a war history freak that I am, I’ve decided to go to the War Memorial of Korea instead. It figures that this is not a bad alternative after all. After a few steps from the train station, and there I was. It was a big memorial, propabably bigger than Tokyo’s (in)famous Yūshūkan. This museum contains exhibits not only fromt the Korean War, but from Korea’s history. I really learned a lot, from it’s days during the three kingdoms era, the Joseon period, the Japanese occupation to the divided Korea that we know today. From my perspective, Korea is a dynamic country and it has gone through a lot, from decades mixed with innovation, political turmol, foreign vassalship and occupation and division to prosperity, cutting-edge technological development and economic growth. Indeed, South Korea has come a long way.
Here’s what it looks like before crossing to the street. Looks like it’s some kind of monument. For the Korean War perhaps? Well, it looks like it.
Now, here’s a statue. Notice the people struggling from the right to the soldiers holding their M14 rifles on the left center.
Here’s the same statue taken from another angle.
When you go inside the musuem complex, here’s a Korean drum waiting for you. It’s somehowhat similar to Japan’s Taiko drum.
Yes, it’s Kim Il Sung’s Car, the first leader of North Korea.
A North Korean MIG Jet. Maybe you can tell me the exact model.
Here’s Syngman Rhee’s official car. He was the first president of South Korea.
A South Korean propeller-driven fighter plane.
The front view of Syngman Rhee’s official car.
A Soviet-made North Korean T-34 tank.
A North Korean propeller-drive military plane. Is it a bomber, or a fighter? It looks like a dive bomber to me.
South Korean helicopter and reconnaissance planes.
A South Korean paratrooper.
Another South Korean reconnaissance plane.
What a coincidence! I drive a Korean car back at home.
A scaled-down reconstruction of a Korean fort, propbably during the three kingdoms era.
Foreign-supplied muzzle-loading rifles, probably supplied for the Joseon army.
Joseon Army uniforms. They were in a middle of a modernization program under the Russians. Eventually, this was stopped when the Japanese occupied Korea.
A Mosin-Nagant rifle (Russia), an Arisaka Rifle (Japan). Probably a Nambu and a Tokarev for the revolvers below.
Probably one of Admiral Yi Sun Shin’s ships.
Probably a Korean version of Japan’s Samurai.
A replica of Admiral Yi Sun Shin’s turtle ships. He used this to defeat a Japanese fleet during the Joseon days.
Yes, South Korea honors the UN soldiers that fought for it during the Korean War. My country the Philippines was one of them. Proud of it.
Philippine Army (PEFTOK) equipment during the Korean War.
The famous battle of Yuldong. Philippine Soldiers held their ground and killed a lot of PROC soldiers during this siege.
Hey, would you look at that! Good ol’ FVR fought in the Korean War!
Fidel V. Ramos’ uniform. Hey, I used the same garrison belt back in my ROTC days.
All the UN contingents from different countries that fought for South Korea. They fought for democracy.
Probably a diorama of the Axe Murder Incident.
Probably remnants of the torpedo that sunk the ROKS Cheonan.
Korean Air Force Missles
A Korean FA-50 fighter jet, an indigenously produced South Korean fighter plane. The Philippine Air Force has 12 of these babies.
The evolution of South Korean fighter planes.
The trainer version and the fighter version of the FA-50.
A South Korean Air Force Trainer Plane.
Once again, a Korean FA-50 fighter jet, an indigenously produced South Korean fighter plane. The Philippine Air Force has 12 of these babies.
Well, that’s just about it. I’ll update this article as much as I can. For the meanwhile, enjoy the pictures!