United States Army Chief of Staff General Collins studying a map of the front line during the battle for Korea, with Lieutenant General Walker, Brigadier General Farrell and Korean Brigadier General Paik. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Korean War 75th Anniversary Commemoration Photo Exhibition presented by the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Hawaiʻi Chapter
June 10 – 27, 2025
Lane Gallery, Honolulu Hale

Commemoration Ceremony:  June 17th, 2:00 p.m. at Mission Memorial Auditorium

In solemn remembrance and tribute to the service and sacrifice of Korean War veterans, the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) Hawaii Chapter, in coordination with the Republic of Korea Naval History & Archive Department, War Memorial Museum of Korea, and the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts is proud to present the 75th Korean War Documentary Photo Exhibit, opening on June 10th from 10 AM at the City Hall Lane Gallery on 530 S. King Street.

This powerful exhibit showcases a collection of rare and historic photographs documenting the Korean War (1950–1953) — often remembered as “The Forgotten War” — now illuminated anew for its 75th anniversary. Through evocative images captured by frontline photographers, war correspondents, and military personnel, visitors will gain an intimate glimpse into the resilience of soldiers, the struggles of civilians, and the enduring hope that emerged amid conflict.

“This exhibit is not just a commemoration of history—it’s a tribute to the courage, unity, and humanity that transcended the battlefield,” said Bong-Yong Park, president of PUAC Hawaii Chapter.  “We hope each photo serves as a moment of reflection and recognition for all who served and those still impacted by the war’s legacy.”

Highlights include:

• Never-before-seen images from U.S. and Korean archives
• Special tribute wall honoring local Korean War veterans
• USS Missouri (BB-63) Battleship dispatched to North Korea
• Admiral Sohn Won-il in Honolulu reparing US Battleship 

The exhibit runs from June 10 through June 27, with a Commemoration Ceremony on June 17th at 2 PM, featuring remarks by dignitaries, veteran guests, and community leaders.

Admission is free and open to the public. Veterans, families, and history enthusiasts are especially encouraged to attend. 

About the Exhibit Host:

The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) is a constitutional institution, is a presidential consultative body set up to establish and implement policies on democratic and peaceful unification on a bipartisan and pan-national level.

Reference to Hawaiʻi: 

The USS Missouri (BB-63), a U.S. Navy Iowa-class battleship, played a significant role during the Korean War (1950–1953).

Here is an overview of her service during that period:

USS Missouri in the Korean War

• Recommissioned for Korea: After being decommissioned in 1948 following WWII service, she was Recommissioned, dispatched to Korea in August 1950, making an 11,000-mile dash from Norfolk, even running through a hurricane.
• Arrived mid‑September near Kyūshū then began shore bombardments in North Korea, notably near Samchok, Inchon, Chongjin, Tanchon, and Wonsan .
• In October 1950, its massive 16‑inch guns hammered Chongjin to disrupt enemy communications
• Combat Role:
  • She served primarily as a shore bombardment platform, delivering heavy naval gunfire in support of United Nations and Republic of Korea ground forces.
  • Her 16-inch (406 mm) guns were used to shell North Korean and Chinese positions, supply routes, and infrastructure.
  • On March 5 and March 10, 1953, North Korean shore batteries at Wonsan returned fire, scoring minor shrapnel hits on Missouri’s fantail 
  • Missouri retaliated fiercely—with 998 rounds from its 5‑inch guns on March 10, 1953 (the single highest volume day for those guns) 
  • Its last Korean War action was a bombardment near Kojo on March 25, 1953, before leaving Korean waters
• Major Operations:
  • Wonsan: Provided fire support during the siege and blockade of the port city.
  • Kojo & Chongjin: Bombarded supply routes and troop concentrations.
  • She also participated in feint operations to mislead enemy forces about potential amphibious landings.
• Duration of Deployment:
  • The Missouri remained in Korean waters through 1951 and had periodic deployments afterward as part of the Seventh Fleet.
• Symbolic Importance:
  • As the ship where Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945, ending WWII, her presence in Korea was a powerful reminder of U.S. naval might and resolve.

Legacy

• The USS Missouri was one of the few battleships used in the Korean War, marking one of the last times such vessels were employed in direct combat.
• Today, she is preserved as a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, near the site of the USS Arizona, symbolizing both the start and end of the Pacific War, and her service in Korea extends that legacy.

Admiral Sohn Won‑il (1909 – 1980) was a seminal figure in Republic of Korea Navy history—known as its founder and first Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), appointed in 1948.

• First CNO of ROK Navy: He led the Korean Coast Guard as it evolved into the Republic of Korea Navy on September 5, 1948 en.wikipedia.org.
• Founding Father: Credited as the founder of South Korea’s navy marines.mil+11en.wikipedia.org+11en.wikipedia.org+11.

His Role in the Korean War

• Active Commander: Was in the U.S. obtaining naval vessels when the Korean War broke out.
• Early Contributions: Upon return, he oversaw the integration of submarine chasers and coastal vessels into naval operations—helping defend the Pusan Perimeter and disrupting enemy supply routes through aggressive patrols and sinkings.

Later Roles and Legacy

• Minister of National Defense and First Ambassador to West Germany post-service en.wikipedia.org+9en.wikipedia.org+9military-history.fandom.com+9.
• Namesake Submarine: South Korea’s lead Type‑214 submarine, ROKS Sohn Won‑yil (SS‑072), bears his name commons.wikimedia.org+5en.wikipedia.org+5en.wikipedia.org+5.

Connection to Honolulu

• Although Admiral Sohn himself passed away in 1980, his legacy is symbolically tied to Honolulu through military and historical commemorations—such as the Pacific‑based U.S.–ROK naval alliance and ceremonies at places like the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (“Punchbowl”), which honor veterans cpf.navy.mil+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
• The strategic naval bonds between South Korea and U.S. forces, often celebrated in Honolulu and at Pearl Harbor facilities, reaffirm his legacy in the U.S.–ROK partnership.

For more information, please visit the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Hawai’i Chapter website.

Honolulu Hale is open Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.