War Memorial of Korea (WMOK) in Seoul

We went to the War Memorial of Korea (WMOK) in Seoul expecting the solemn precision of an Honour Guard ceremony. What we got? A full-blown variety show, and honestly, we may have gotten the better deal. 

 They were setting up for an event in the Peace Plaza so instead of the usual military drill, we were treated to:  • Four military officers each representing a different branch of the South Korean military: Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army, breaking into song (yes, actual singing, no lip sync)  • A magic show that charmed the kids and amused the adults just enough to be impressive  • A hybrid folk performance of a traditional Samulnori drum & dance troupe who quite literally made their ribbons spin with their headgear and who also performed plate-spinning  • And the bonus was not one but two groups of ridiculously adorable Korean young children on school outings—each with a sticker on their back featuring contact info (we assume and thought it so clever). It was so orderly and perfectly managed by caring but also very clear teachers. What a treat to watch! 

We rounded off our visit with a walk through the memorial itself. The UN Participation Memorial stood out most: a series of beautifully presented plaques honouring the nations and individuals who supported Korea during the war. It’s an uncomfortable reminder of the cost of war and that peace is a team sport. We went expecting pomp & ceremony and ended up with pageantry, percussion, preschoolers, and a powerful dose of perspective. Not bad for a Friday afternoon.  #NoSpaceForJustInCase #WeLoveKorea #SamulnoriSurprise #WarMemorialOfKorea #UNParticipationMemorial #HonourGuard