25 April 2023
I will do anything if it is free
Gyeonghuigung Palace and War Memorial
Last full day in Korea and when I went outside it was very cold and grey. Unexpected.
I had no plan so first I had a coffee and still made no plan. Then I walked in no particular direction and saw signs for various palaces. Well I wasn't going to pay, I have been to them all before, but then I remembered one of them is free. So after working out which of the 3 nearby are free, that is where I went first, right on opening time. I had the entire Gyeonghuigung Palace to myself for my entire visit.
Next, I had another coffee, it was still grey and cold. So I walked further, for a long time, and happened upon the War Memorial. I had also been there before, and it turns out it is also free! So I was sold... for $0.
It is a very large interesting place with lots of tanks and aircraft indoors and out, plus lots of info on the Korean war and various wars prior. And a huge amount of school kids running, screaming and misbehaving that I glared at. There are also groups inside trying to get you signature for various causes which was annoying. The whole place is a bit more war glorification rather than war memorial, but also very informative.
And then there was all the recently added stuff about Dokdo island.
First I swung past my beloved drain. I was wearing shorts even though it was only 8c, probably the coldest morning of the entire trip.
Until the 1960's there was an entire tram network. It was ripped out to make way for cars under American influence.
Here is the gate to Gyeonghuigung Palace. I will not be typing that again. This entire place is a complete re-creation. I will explain why shortly.
The grounds are very nice.
Not a single other person around.
There were signs explaining that it was rebuilt in the 60's, the original buildings were dismantled by the Japanese in about 1910 and repurposed in various places as Japanese temples. So there you go, Japanese temples are in fact, Korean.
New looking because, Japan.
Out the back there is a famous rock, it says it is a natural fountain. I saw no evidence of this.
My journey south took me past the main Seoul station. A photo of the old part was requested. Here is the best I can do from this side of the road.
Now for the war memorial. Those people in the foreground are part of a Chinese tour group. I found that interesting.
As soon as you enter the main entrance, you get this makeshift Dokdo island display. Korea and Japan are currently technically at war over this random rock.
I mentioned when I visited Incheon recently about General MacArthur smoking a pipe as he rode a horse into battle. Well here is the actual pipe.
This is one third of the memorial building, with an old boat.
These may look like models, but they are full sized real aircraft.
Yes.
It is not all about the Korean war, there is info about modern stuff too.
I do not know what this is, maybe it is actually made in Korea. Strange that it had a room dedicated to it.
There is also pre Korean war stuff, like cannons, but also swords and funny hats.
A mustang.
Outside the museum proper is the military theme park area. I did not really remember the inside from my previous visit, but I definitely remember this bit. Also, blue sky has returned.
First I will check out some helicopters. The Apache is too popular so they had to lift it off the ground.
A Phantom. They are huge.
I cannot remember exactly what this one is.
The Phantom is bigger than expected, where as the B52 is much smaller than I thought. I remembered I thought the same thing last time.
There is also a boat, with bullet holes. Full of kids playing on it.
And just to round out this bizarre experience of children playing on historic war vehicles, they have added cartoon characters to pose with the B52.
OK that is enough war for today. It is coincidentally Anzac day too.