The Korean War Memorial Park for Civil Victims is the concept for The International Design Competition for Korean War Memorial Park for Civil Victims tentatively named ‘The Forest of Truth and Reconciliation’.

CONTEXT

The task was to create a ‘memorial park’ that will commemorate civil victims who lost their lives during the Korean War and will become a national symbol of reconciliation. It will commemorate the civil victims of the Korean War and offer some comfort to their bereaved families.

CONCEPT

The Korean people strive for spiritual unity, reconciliation, unification, forgiveness, compassion, and good for the purpose of achieving peace. Like two halves of the same broken rock to be joined. Symbolically it means moving from forgiveness to light and enlightenment. Reconciliation and collectiveness are achievable on a spiritual level. It is achieved on a spiritual level – reconciliation will be ensured on the mundane level.

The space between the walls, interior of Memorial Hall is the tunnel in which light has entered and illuminated it. Space is as fluid as light, the space has a vertical character. The verticality touches the ground and the wind that blows for such a long time. The verticality directs the gaze upward. It is looking for a way out of the valley surrounded by mountains and forests, a gaze towards light and wishes of the families before they disappear forever into oblivion, finding an invisible helping hand, the support of heaven. Entering a dark and mystic space, moving towards the brighter catharsis in the light, silence, ceremonial space for expressing homage.

The Memorial Hall is a spiritual barrage that is impossible to tear down. The environment and the space of spiritual truth are offering reconciliation.

CURIOSITIES

Concrete walls symbolize two halves that need to be reunited. Forming the space, the walls approach each other and touch the light. The light symbolizes the spiritual level of our souls and appears like an overhead line of light on the Memorial Hall roof.