Between Trauma and Diplomacy: The Korean War Memorial and the Making of Global Memory

Abstract

This article analyzes the War Memorial of Korea, highlighting its creation following the country’s democratization in 1987 and its role in South Korea’s memory politics concerning other countries. The article discusses this memorial construction's epistemic, social, and material dimensions. The analysis deepens by examining the impact of neoliberalism on the preservation and commercialization of memory, which transforms historical reflection spaces, such as the War Memorial of Korea, into tourist attractions. The article also addresses how the memory of the Korean War is treated internationally, exploring divergent narratives in countries such as the United States and North Korea, revealing their diplomatic implications. A central aspect that deserves greater emphasis is the reflection on how the war and its monumentalization are perceived by other countries involved, especially in the context of the Cold War. The article critiques the intersection between historical memory, political power, and neoliberal economics, highlighting the use of history for commercial and diplomatic purposes. By crossing national and international data with theoretical approaches, it contributes to a broader understanding of the construction, manipulation, and consumption of collective memory on a global scale.