Hyosoon-Miseon Peace Park Information
[Development History of the Peace Park]
#2012: Construction of the Citizen Memorial Monument
- Since the tragic accident in 2002, South Koreans have held memorial services every year on June 13 at the site of the incident. They also set up memorial altars at places like Daehanmun and Gwanghwamun, where they had held candlelight vigils. The people have not forgotten the unresolved issues, including the demand for a thorough investigation of the incident, and they have vowed to ensure these matters are addressed and resolved.
- In 2008, people attending the memorial service noticed that the words “US 2nd Division” had been defaced on the US military memorial. This symbolized the anger of Korean people at the deceptive move of the US military had written the incident as an ‘unfortunate accident’ on their memorial without saying a single word of apology. In response, citizens campaigned for a Korean memorial to be built in place of the US military’s hypocritical memorial.
A memorial monument established by U.S. troops.
Angry South Koreans, expressing frustration over the lack of an apology from the U.S. military, defaced the letters "2nd Infantry Division."
- In 2012, on the 10th anniversary, the civic memorial “Girls’ Dream” was built with public donations.
The Citizen Memorial Monument was designed with two pillars symbolizing the two middle school students, Shim Miseon and Shin Hyo-soon,
with candle-shaped holes to represent flowers, creating a beautiful and symbolic structure.
#"No Land to Build a Citizen Memorial!" Memorial Services Held on Asphalt
- South Koreans had no place to put the memorial, for many years, the memorial was transported by truck to the site of the accident every time a service was held. It was even taken away by the police when people tried to place it in Gwang-hwa-mun Square and hold a candlelight service.
- In order to erect the civic memorial on the site of the US military memorial, the committee asked the US Embassy, the US Forces Korea, and the US 2nd Division to move the US military memorial to the area of the US 2nd Division so that the US soldiers could see and remember it. But the request was denied.
- Eventually, decided to secure land for the Citizen Memorial Monument and started fundraising again.
#18 Years Later, Citizens Finally Built the Peace Park
- In 2017, after purchasing the land, the committee asked the US Ambassador to Korea and the commander of the US Forces in Korea to relocate the memorial to the US 2nd Division land. However, they replied that the monument is a cultural property so that the committee should contact the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration.
- The Cultural Heritage Administration replied that the memorial was not a cultural property and that it was not their responsibility to get involved. Finally, the United States denied any responsibility, saying that “the removal and relocation of the memorial is a matter for the South Korean government and the landowners to decide.”
- The Peace Park Project Committee, which succeeded the Citizens Committee for the Construction of the Memorial, moved the US military monument to the corner of the Peace Park site with the consent of the families, and finally completed the Peace Park in 2020, the 18th anniversary of the incident.
- The park is shaped like the sneaker worn by one of the girls wore and left on the ground at the time of the incident. The wall of the park records the history and significance of the incident and depicts the first candlelight rally of the great people’s movement.
- As the first and only park in Korea to be established in the citizens’ solidarity with the victims of US military crimes, the Peace Park was a milestone in Korea’s sovereign peace movement.
[Structure of the Peace Park]
- The Peace Park was designed to reflect the shape of the sneakers that were left on the ground at the time of the incident.
- A Citizen Memorial Monument is placed in the center of the park.
- One wall of the park features a record of the incident's background and significance, while the other wall displays a painting depicting the first candlelight of the great Korean people.
A Citizen Memorial Monument is placed in the center, a candle mural on the left, and a timeline wall of the incident on the right.
- As the first and only park in Korea to be established in the citizens’ solidarity with the victims of US military crimes, the Peace Park was a milestone in Korea’s sovereign peace movement.
[How to Get to Peace Park]
- Take the 1-line subway from Seoul Station and get off at Yangju Station.
- From Yangju Station, take Bus No. 35 and get off at Woorori(in front of the Engineer Unit).
- Peace Park Address:
543-3, Hyochon-ri, Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Hyosoon-Miseon Peace Park Information
[Development History of the Peace Park]
#2012: Construction of the Citizen Memorial Monument
- Since the tragic accident in 2002, South Koreans have held memorial services every year on June 13 at the site of the incident. They also set up memorial altars at places like Daehanmun and Gwanghwamun, where they had held candlelight vigils. The people have not forgotten the unresolved issues, including the demand for a thorough investigation of the incident, and they have vowed to ensure these matters are addressed and resolved.
- In 2008, people attending the memorial service noticed that the words “US 2nd Division” had been defaced on the US military memorial. This symbolized the anger of Korean people at the deceptive move of the US military had written the incident as an ‘unfortunate accident’ on their memorial without saying a single word of apology. In response, citizens campaigned for a Korean memorial to be built in place of the US military’s hypocritical memorial.
Angry South Koreans, expressing frustration over the lack of an apology from the U.S. military, defaced the letters "2nd Infantry Division."
- In 2012, on the 10th anniversary, the civic memorial “Girls’ Dream” was built with public donations.
The Citizen Memorial Monument was designed with two pillars symbolizing the two middle school students, Shim Miseon and Shin Hyo-soon,
with candle-shaped holes to represent flowers, creating a beautiful and symbolic structure.
#"No Land to Build a Citizen Memorial!" Memorial Services Held on Asphalt
- South Koreans had no place to put the memorial, for many years, the memorial was transported by truck to the site of the accident every time a service was held. It was even taken away by the police when people tried to place it in Gwang-hwa-mun Square and hold a candlelight service.
- In order to erect the civic memorial on the site of the US military memorial, the committee asked the US Embassy, the US Forces Korea, and the US 2nd Division to move the US military memorial to the area of the US 2nd Division so that the US soldiers could see and remember it. But the request was denied.
- Eventually, decided to secure land for the Citizen Memorial Monument and started fundraising again.
#18 Years Later, Citizens Finally Built the Peace Park
- In 2017, after purchasing the land, the committee asked the US Ambassador to Korea and the commander of the US Forces in Korea to relocate the memorial to the US 2nd Division land. However, they replied that the monument is a cultural property so that the committee should contact the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration.
- The Cultural Heritage Administration replied that the memorial was not a cultural property and that it was not their responsibility to get involved. Finally, the United States denied any responsibility, saying that “the removal and relocation of the memorial is a matter for the South Korean government and the landowners to decide.”
- The Peace Park Project Committee, which succeeded the Citizens Committee for the Construction of the Memorial, moved the US military monument to the corner of the Peace Park site with the consent of the families, and finally completed the Peace Park in 2020, the 18th anniversary of the incident.
- The park is shaped like the sneaker worn by one of the girls wore and left on the ground at the time of the incident. The wall of the park records the history and significance of the incident and depicts the first candlelight rally of the great people’s movement.
- As the first and only park in Korea to be established in the citizens’ solidarity with the victims of US military crimes, the Peace Park was a milestone in Korea’s sovereign peace movement.
[Structure of the Peace Park]
- The Peace Park was designed to reflect the shape of the sneakers that were left on the ground at the time of the incident.
- A Citizen Memorial Monument is placed in the center of the park.
- One wall of the park features a record of the incident's background and significance, while the other wall displays a painting depicting the first candlelight of the great Korean people.
A Citizen Memorial Monument is placed in the center, a candle mural on the left, and a timeline wall of the incident on the right.
- As the first and only park in Korea to be established in the citizens’ solidarity with the victims of US military crimes, the Peace Park was a milestone in Korea’s sovereign peace movement.
[How to Get to Peace Park]
- Take the 1-line subway from Seoul Station and get off at Yangju Station.
- From Yangju Station, take Bus No. 35 and get off at Woorori(in front of the Engineer Unit).
- Peace Park Address:
543-3, Hyochon-ri, Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.