72 Years Ago 'Tears of That Day'... Changwon Special City Unveils Korean War Civilian Victims Memorial Tower

A dedication ceremony for the Changwon Memorial Tower in Gyeongnam and a joint memorial service were held to commemorate civilian victims of the Korean War and console their bereaved families.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, held the unveiling ceremony and joint memorial service for the Changwon Memorial Tower for Korean War Civilian Victims on the 26th.

The city stated that the tower was erected to commemorate the civilian victims of the Korean War and to fulfill the bereaved families' wish for the construction of the memorial tower.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by No Chisu, president of the Korean War Civilian Victims Changwon Bereaved Families Association and bereaved families, Mayor Hong Nampyo, Chairman Jeong Geunsik of the Past Affairs Committee for Truth and Reconciliation, Song Giin, the inaugural chairman of the Past Affairs Committee for Truth and Reconciliation, Moon Sungyu, vice chairman of the Changwon City Council, and about 250 citizens.

The event proceeded in the order of a memorial song performance, progress report, memorial address, unveiling of the memorial tower and silent tribute, and joint memorial service.

According to the city, the memorial tower was built at San 73, Gapo-dong, Masanhappo-gu, overlooking Gwaengibada, where many victims were drowned.

A total of 320 million KRW was invested, including 50 million KRW from the provincial government and 270 million KRW from the city, to construct the tower on a 2,150㎡ site with a height of 5.6 meters.

The tower includes a name plaque engraved with the names of 520 victims, and construction began in March this year and was completed last August.

On the 24th, safety fences for visitor safety and landscaping maintenance work were also completed.

The memorial tower, named "Tears of That Day," consists of three stone towers embracing a tear-shaped sculpture in the center, symbolizing the eternal rest of the victims and the wish for solace for the bereaved families, designed to face the sky beyond Masan Gwaengibada.

A city official explained, "In September 2013, we enacted an ordinance to support memorial projects for civilian victims before and after the Korean War to provide a basis for memorial support, but faced difficulties in building the tower due to the large-scale budget required. However, with repeated requests from the bereaved families and the city's determination to build an integrated Changwon through the restoration of past affairs, we were able to erect the tower."

President No of the bereaved families said, "It has been 72 years of silently enduring the sorrowful years of women who lost their husbands and children who lost their parents. Facing the memorial tower, which embodies the long-cherished wish of the bereaved families to console the souls of their blood relatives, I feel a great burden lifted from my heart."

Mayor Hong said, "I extend my deepest condolences to the irreplaceable grief and wounds of the bereaved families. Through the unveiling of the memorial tower, we will do our best to record a new history and move forward toward the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.