Visiting the Geochang Incident Memorial Park
After a quiet spring rain on April 10th, I visited the Geochang Incident Memorial Park, passing through Imbul. I highly recommend that you not only stay in Imbul but also make a trip to the memorial park.
The Geochang Incident Memorial Park is located in Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, at 2924 Sincharo, Sinwon-myeon. Admission is free, and the history exhibition hall is open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (and until 4:30 PM during winter).
The air, washed by the rain, felt clear and calm, and the memorial park, surrounded by cherry blossoms, was a beautiful sight from a distance.
The scenery, adorned with yellow forsythia and embraced by cherry blossoms, was truly stunning. However, remembering the history this place holds made my steps cautious.
Spring was abundant at the entrance of the memorial park. The steps were decorated with pots of pansies arranged in the shape of butterflies, which looked heartwarming and lovely.
In April, the memorial park was filled with pansies and violas, bringing a sense of spring everywhere, and with the addition of cherry blossoms, the entire space seemed to come alive.
The blend of yellow, purple, and pure white cherry blossoms created a beautiful and warm scene. Yet, this place is not merely a spot for beautiful flowers.
As you walk through the Geochang Incident History Education Exhibition Hall, you encounter a scene of a young girl waving at a soldier, believing he would protect her. That little girl followed the soldier to survive, but ultimately became one of the cold victims of the tragedy.
The Geochang Incident is a tragedy that unfolded during the Korean War. In the exhibition hall, you can see the operation orders, manipulated documents, and the process of the massacre that lasted three days through videos and models.
On March 29, 1951, the Geochang Incident was brought to light by Shin Joong-mok, a congressman from Geochang. It shocked both domestic and international media, but the truth of the incident was not properly established for a long time.
The government ordered the opening of the Park Sang Joint Cemetery and buried even the memorial stone in the ground. The bereaved families, having unearthed the damaged memorial stone, left it as is, hoping that one day the state would take responsibility and restore it.
Among the 719 victims, 358 were children, and 171 of the unclaimed victims were recorded only by their surnames instead of their names.
As I exited the exhibition, the spring flowers caught my eye again—cornelian cherry, pansies, violas, and cherry blossoms. The bright and beautiful flowers seemed to quietly comfort the bereaved families visiting this place.
Watching the petals sway in the wind reminded me that the seasons inevitably come, even amidst sorrow. This place holds a time we must remember and is a space where the stories of those we should never forget linger.
Walking under the cherry blossoms and gazing at the path adorned with pansies and violas, I quietly held the pain of that day in my heart.
In the flower garden, look for heart and star shapes!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/geochanggun/224248177144
No comments yet.
