Mayor Jeong:
"The Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall
Will Become a Place to Teach
Future Generations the Importance of Peace"
The Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, which embodies the wounds and healing of residents affected by the nearby U.S. military firing range for over 50 years, as well as the meaning of peace, has officially opened.
On the 21st, Hwaseong City held the opening ceremony in the multipurpose room on the first floor of the Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall. The event was attended by Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun, City Council Chair Bae Jeongsu, the Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. 7th Air Force in Korea, provincial and city council members, Jeon Mankyu, former chairman of the Maehyangri Residents' Countermeasures Committee, donors of artifacts, and about 150 others.
At the opening ceremony of the Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall held on the 21st, attendees participated in a butterfly release event conveying messages of peace and hope. Provided by Hwaseong City
The Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall, built in Maehyang-ri, Ujeong-eup, is a public cultural facility that conveys the meaning of peace. It stands on land that was once used as a U.S. military firing range and was returned through the persistent struggle of local residents.
The memorial hall is a building with one basement level and two above-ground floors, co-designed by world-renowned architect Mario Botta and the domestic firm HnSa Architects.
The children's experience room on the first floor offers media art and various content themed around light, hope, freedom, and peace. Through mazes, puzzles, and picture books, children can naturally learn the story of Maehyangri and understand the value of peace.
The permanent exhibition hall on the second floor displays various records documenting the establishment and closure of the Koon-ni Firing Range, the struggles of the residents, and the realities of U.S. military training. The special exhibition hall features an exhibition themed on "Light and Shadow."
The hall is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed every Monday, on January 1, and on the days of Seollal and Chuseok. Admission and parking are free.
The city plans to host a variety of exhibitions and educational programs at the memorial hall, while also expanding cultural content linked to local history and ecological tourism.
Mayor Jeong stated, "I hope the Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall will become a place of education that teaches future generations the importance of peace."
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