NSW Korean War Memorial, Moore Park

About

The NSW Korean War Memorial is located at the northern end of Moore Park in Sydney. It commemorates Australians and Koreans who served in the Korean War. The memorial honours a friendship forged through war, between two different countries, cultures and communities.   The layout of the memorial is inspired by the national flag of the Republic of South Korea. It features a circular stone wall encompassing the site symbolising 'strength', with a central, curving pathway based on the taeguk or yin and yang symbol found on the South Korean flag, symbolising 'commemoration'. The names of the 21 countries of the United Nations task force are inscribed into the pathway. Two granite monoliths quarried from the location of the Battle of Kapyong, South Korea, are located in the centre, representing the divide in the Korean peninsula. A field of 136 forged steel and bronze flower stems, one for every life lost from NSW, surrounds the monoliths. The sculptures are inspired by the South Korean national flower, the Rose of Sharon, symbolising 'regeneration'. In between the rows of flowers are 11 jagged, concrete headstones depicting the rugged mountainous terrain of Korea, representing 'remembrance'. These carry the names of the battles in which Australians were awarded battle honours. The memorial also features the18 names of those who died after the armistice was signed. A path circles the memorial's perimeter with two flagpoles flying the Australian and South Korean flags A design competition for the memorial was held in 2007, which resulted in the memorial being designed primarily by Jane Cavanough (Artlandish) with detail design by Steven Hammond (Group GSA). The memorial was built as a result of consultation, planning and construction by the NSW Government in partnership with the South Korean Government, Australian and Korean veterans groups and the Korean community of Sydney. The memorial was officially unveiled on 26 July 2009 by Mr Graham West MP, Minister assisting the Premier on Veterans Affairs. Around 1,000 people joined dignitaries including Mr Yang Kim, Minister for Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Republic of Korea, and Mr Woong-nam Kim, Consul General, Republic of Korea, as well as veterans groups and the Korean community of Sydney. On 23 April 2013, the memorial was declared a Military Memorial of National Significance. A Korean War Commemoration Service is held annually at the memorial in July. Wreath Laying Ceremonies occur 10-20 times a year, by visiting delegations of the Government and Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea.