Framing the Memory of a War: Examining the Narratives of War Memorials in South Korea and the Philippines in Remembering Korean War Memories

Framing the Memory of a War: Examining the Narratives of War Memorials in South Korea and the Philippines in Remembering Korean War Memories

Purpose: This paper explores the narratives of the Korean War in various memorial sites in South Korea and the Philippines, aiming to identify the general themes and sentiments reflected in these sites. The study aims to identify how the two societies remember the war by analyzing the historical relevance of the Korean War and the contexts in which these war memorials were established. Four Korean War memorials are examined: the Nakdong River Victory Memorial Hall, the War Memorial of Korea, PEFTOK Korean War Memorial, and Marikorea Monument. Method: The analysis involves word clouds, sentiment analysis, and identification of general themes. The findings show distinct perspectives from each country. Results: In the Philippines, the focus of its war memorials is remembering the contributions, gallantry, and bravery of Filipino soldiers. In South Korea, the memorial sites focus on the role of various nations, including the Philippines, in supporting war efforts. Moreover, South Korean memorials frame the narrative by emphasizing North Korea’s invasion and as a consequence, the suffering endured by the South Korean people. This research emphasizes that war memorials not only preserve a nation’s history but also frames collective memory and determines how a war should be remembered. Conclusion: War memorials can evoke memories of the past, and these memories may have different meanings. Ultimately, war memorials do not just show a part of a nation’s history, it also determines how the past should be remembered.