UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea

유엔기념공원

The only United Nations cemetery in the world, holding the war dead of the countries that fought in the Korean War. For a visitor from one of those countries it is the clearest reason to be in Busan. It is a cemetery rather than a sight, and it closes an hour earlier in winter.

Language

Rows of graves among lawns and hedges at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea

Place information

Korean name: 유엔기념공원
Address: 93 UN pyeonghwa-ro, Nam-gu, Busan
Opening hours: May–Sep 09:00–18:00 Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec 09:00–17:00
Closed: Open year-round
Time needed: 1 hour
Admission: Free

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Prices

Admission	Free

Source: Visit Busan — UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea · Sep 2, 2026

History

The United Nations Command established the cemetery for the war dead, and remains temporarily buried in several other places began to be interred there after its completion. The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea proposed permanently donating the land and designating it a sacred site; the UN General Assembly resolved that the UN would manage the cemetery permanently. The Republic of Korea and the UN later signed an agreement on its establishment and upkeep, and responsibility for its management passed from UNCURK to CUNMCK, a committee of 11 countries that continues to manage it.

18 January 1951
Establishment of the cemetery
April 1951
Completion and start of interments
17 November 1955
Proposal on land donation and designation
15 December 1955
Resolution on permanent UN management
6 November 1959
Agreement on establishment and upkeep
16 February 1974
Transfer of management to CUNMCK
30 March 2001
Change of its Korean name
24 October 2007
Registration as Registered Cultural Heritage No. 359

UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea — history · Sep 25, 2026

What to see

Main gate

Designed by Kim Chung-up, the gate was donated by Busan citizens on 30 November 1966. The ends of its eight roof-supporting columns are shaped like bowls; the eaves at its four corners represent longing for a distant home, and the four water catchers beneath the roof represent the fallen soldiers' tears.

Nearby

Gwangalli Beach

The main draw is the view of Gwangan Bridge after dark. Drone shows, swimming areas and car-free street events depend on the date and the weather, so check each one before you go.

National Maritime Museum of Korea

A national museum built out over the water at Dongsam-dong on Yeongdo, and the one indoor place that takes Busan's identity as a port head-on. It closes an hour later on weekends and public holidays than on weekdays, so a plan that runs into the evening fits a weekend more easily.

Busan Tower framed by autumn foliage in Yongdusan Park

Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower

The park and the tower are two different decisions: the park costs nothing and never closes, the tower charges admission and stops selling tickets at 21:30.

Kangkangee Arts Village

A village where the repair yards still run. The name comes from the sound of hammers on rusted hulls, and the workshops share its lanes with small cafés.

Stories about this place

Busan in 2 or 3 Days: Old City, Haeundae to Gwangalli, Beomeosa
A first-timer's Busan route. Day 1 covers the western old city — the Provisional Capital Memorial Hall, Nampo-dong and Huinnyeoul Culture Village; day 2 the eastern coast from Haeundae along Blue Line Park to Songjeong and Gwangalli; day 3 runs from Beomeosa down to the UN Memorial Cemetery and Oryukdo. Includes how to choose between two and three days, Monday closures, opening hours and bad-weather swaps.
Five Historic Places in Busan: Beomeosa to Huinnyeoul Village
Five places to see Busan's history, set out in the order the centuries came, from Beomeosa, founded under Silla, to the cliff lanes on Yeongdo where Korean War refugees settled. All five are free. Includes opening hours, where to go instead when the two museums close on Mondays and 1 January, and how to group them into days.

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