The Korean War was a war between North Korea and South Korea from 1950-1953. Unfortunately it is known as the “forgotten war” in U.S. history because few Americans know much about it beyond M*A*S*H. The designers of the Korean War Memorial hoped to change that nickname by drawing attention to those who served. The memorial opened in 1995.

Korean War Memorial location

The Korean War Memorial is located southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and south of the reflecting pool on the National Mall. The GPS address is 900 Ohio Dr SW.

Getting to the Korean War Memorial

There are several transportation options to get to the memorial:

  • Metro: Take the orange, blue, or silver line to the Foggy Bottom station. Walk southbound on 23rd Street until you reach the Lincoln Memorial and continue past it. The walk takes about 20 minutes.
  • DC Circulator: Take the National Mall Circulator bus from anywhere on the National Mall. This bus route starts at Union Station and then makes a big loop past the Capitol, museums and monuments and memorials.
  • Capital Bikeshare: You can ride a Capital Bikeshare bike from anywhere into the city to the nearby “Lincoln Memorial” station.

TIP: The best and easiest way to see the Korean War Memorial is on a guided tour. Our walking tours cover all of the major monuments and memorials on the National Mall. We use an efficient route that allows you to see all of them in three hours or less.

A few interesting facts

  • There are 19 statues of soldiers marching through what looks like a rice field. These are in proportion to the number of U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines who served in the Korean War.
  • The number 38 is important to the design of the memorial because of the 38th parallel and the 38 months of fighting between 1950 and 1953. However, there are only 19 statues, plus a reflective wall that reflects those statues. 19 + 19 = 38.
  • Statues are made of stainless steel because of their reflective properties. This is different from most statues on the National Mall which are made from granite or bronze.

Coming to Washington, DC and want to learn a whole lot more about the Korean War Memorial?

Trip Hacks DC was founded by Rob, a veteran tour guide in the Nation’s Capital. Trip Hacks DC provides tips, tricks and travel hacks for planning your trip; and guided tours to show you around once you get here. Our tours are family and school group friendly and our guides specialize in the major Washington, DC sites. Click here to check out the upcoming tour options and to book your tour here today! Feel free to contact us if you have any tour questions.