Diplomacy Journal  Kim Tae Yeon  | As you walk through the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, black pillars towering toward the sky on one side of the wide plaza next to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts immediately catch your eye.

Those encountering them for the first time might easily mistake them for modern sculptural works, but these pillars are symbols honoring the sacrifices of the nations that participated in the Korean War and dedicated themselves to the defense of freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea.

Gwanghwamun is a space where the history and present of the Republic of Korea meet. Erected here, where the spirits of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin live and breathe against the backdrop of Gyeongbokgung Palace and Mt. Bugak, this commemorative sculpture is not merely a work of art, but a historical symbol that reminds us of the value of freedom.

The sculpture consists of 23 pillars arranged at regular intervals. Each pillar symbolizing a different nation, they appear like prayers of gratitude raised toward the heavens. Viewed from a distance, it resembles the shape of a continuous series of giant waves, or perhaps wings soaring toward freedom.

Each pillar is inscribed with the name of the participating nations that fought for the Republic of Korea. Though the names differ, their meaning is one: the spirit of sacrifice of the young people who came to the Korean Peninsula amidst the ruins of war to defend freedom.

In particular, the phrase "Sacrifice for Peace" inscribed on the monument resonates deeply with us living today. It makes us reflect once again on the fact that the daily life and prosperity we enjoy today were never given to us automatically.

The Korean War was a tragedy that claimed countless lives, but it is also a history of the international community standing in solidarity for freedom and peace. Young people from various nations risked their lives fighting for the unfamiliar land of the Republic of Korea, and today's Republic of Korea was built upon their sacrifices.

This monument in the Gwanghwamun Square is a space to remember the past, as well as a space of promise for the future. The reason we remember the war is not to leave behind hatred, but to ensure that the same tragedy is never repeated.

As the setting sun casts its glow upon the pillars, the black granite turns golden, and the long shadows cast over the plaza resemble the footsteps of war veterans. This sight quietly speaks to us:

"Peace belongs to those who remember."

In June, the Month of Patriots and Veterans, the Pillars of Peace in Gwanghwamun Plaza stand silently today, remembering those who dedicated themselves to the defense of freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea.