‘Like whale bones’: South Korea’s war memorial sparks conflict over symbolism

Gwanghwamun Square, a plaza in Seoul framed by royal palaces and monuments to Korean national identity, is at the centre of a dispute over whether a massive new Korean War memorial belongs in a public space seen as a major tourist attraction and long associated with civic gatherings and pro-democracy protests.A row of 23 stone monuments representing South Korea and the 22 foreign countries that fought alongside it during the 1950-53 war was recently unveiled at the square.Located across from the US embassy, the monuments feature honour guards in “present arms” military posture, prompting criticism that they are a symbol of militarism in the city’s most iconic location. Each monument stands at 6.25 metres (20.5 feet), symbolising the start of the war on June 25, 1950.