Korean War Memorial

The Korean War Memorial stands in Victoria Embankment Gardens, beside the River Thames and near the Ministry of Defence in London. A bronze statue of a British soldier by Philip Jackson forms its centrepiece. A Portland stone obelisk rises on a Welsh slate base behind the figure. The memorial was presented by the Government of South Korea and unveiled on 3 December 2014. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, led the ceremony. It honours the British soldiers who served in the Korean War. Most British fatalities from that conflict lie in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in South Korea. The Gloucester Valley Battle Monument marks another site where British troops fought in Korea. The London memorial links these distant places with a quiet space along the Thames. Visitors find the bronze soldier standing on a paved area with benches nearby. The obelisk and slate base stand behind the statue. The garden setting offers views of the river and passing boats. The Ministry of Defence building can be seen across the gardens. The memorial provides a place for reflection beside the water.