Timeline
Chronology of Seoul National Cemetery
A sacred sanctuary of the nation and an open memorial park beloved by the people—this is the path trodden by Seoul National Cemetery.
-
2020 's
- 2024. 07. 24. Transferred to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
- 2024. 03. 11. Joint burial of Madam Sohn Myung-soon
- 2022. 04. 13. Completion of the Second Memorial Hall (Enshrinement Facility)
- 2021. 05. 21. Erection of the Monument for Unnamed Patriots
- 2020. 07. 25. Operation of the Temporary Enshrinement Room initiated
-
2010 's
- 2019. 06. 14. Joint burial of Madam Lee Hee-ho
- 2015. 11. 26. Burial of President Kim Young-sam
-
2000 's
- 2009. 08. 23. Burial of President Kim Dae-jung
- 2009. 04. 01. Start of joint memorial tablet enshrinement for couples (East Gate of the Memorial Tower)
- 2006. 03. 01. Operation of the First Memorial Hall initiated
-
2006. 01.
Administrative body renamed
by Presidential Decree No. 19286: from “National Cemetery” to “Seoul National Cemetery” -
2005. 07. 29.
Enactment and promulgation of the “Act on the Establishment and Management of National Cemeteries”
(Act No. 7649; enforced from January 30, 2006)
-
1990 's
-
1999. 05. 24.
Organizational restructuring of the National Cemetery
(Ceremonial and Memorial Promotion Divisions merged into the Memorial Division, Presidential Decree No. 16339) - 1997. 05. 30. Completion of the National Cemetery Office Building
- 1996. 06. 01. Institution renamed “National Cemetery”
- 1993. 08. 10. Establishment and burial of key figures from the Provisional Government Cemetery Section
- 1992. 03. 23. Joint burial of Madam Francesca Donner Rhee
-
1991. 03. 28.
Organizational restructuring of the National Cemetery Management Office; Memorial Promotion Division established
(Presidential Decree No. 13335)
-
1999. 05. 24.
Organizational restructuring of the National Cemetery
-
1980 's
- 1988. 03. 29. Opening of the Memorial Promotion Hall
- 1985. 11. 13. Completion of Daejeon National Cemetery
- 1982. 08. 27. Initiation of burial for enlisted personnel at Daejeon National Cemetery
- 1980. 12. 31. Construction of Memorial Hall (currently used as a video hall as well)
-
1970 's
- 1979. 11. 03. Burial of President Park Chung-hee
- 1979. 08. 29. Establishment of the Daejeon Branch of the National Cemetery Management Office (Presidential Decree No. 9581)
- 1979. 04. 01. Commencement of construction work on Daejeon National Cemetery
- 1977. 01. 01. Formation of the Daejeon National Cemetery Establishment Committee
- 1976. 10. 27. Enshrinement ceremony for 117 patriots without descendants
- 1976. 04. 14. Selection of site for Daejeon National Cemetery
- 1974. 12. 30. Completion of the National Cemetery Management Office building
- 1974. 08. 19. Burial of Madam Yuk Young-soo
- 1971. 11. 17. Unveiling of the Memorial Monument in the Patriots’ Grave Section
- 1970. 06. 22. Attempted bombing incident at the Memorial Gate by armed North Korean infiltrators
-
1960 's
- 1969. 04. 30. Construction of the Memorial Gate
- 1967. 09. 30. Construction of the Memorial Tower (including enshrinement hall)
- 1965. 07. 27. Burial of President Syngman Rhee
- 1965. 07. 21. First burial of a police officer killed in the line of duty
- 1965. 03. 30. Promotion to National Cemetery status (National Cemetery Decree enacted, Presidential Decree No. 2092)
- 1963. 11. 21. Burial of members of the Korean Volunteer Army in Japan
- 1964. 03. 11. First burial of an independence patriot (Kim Jae-geun)
- 1962. 05. 10. Establishment of the Joint Honor Guard
-
1950 's
- 1958. 03. 21. Establishment of regional memorial parks in each city/province
- 1957. 04. 02. First burial of an identified soldier
- 1956. 06. 06. 1st Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony held
- 1956. 04. 19. Memorial Day officially designated (39th Cabinet Meeting)
- 1956. 04. 13. Enactment of the Armed Forces Cemetery Establishment Decree (Presidential Decree No. 144)
- 1956. 01. 16. First burial of an unnamed soldier
- 1955. 07. 15. Establishment of the Armed Forces Cemetery Management Office (General Order No. 218 of the Ministry of National Defense)
- 1954. 10. 30. Construction of the Unnamed Soldiers’ Tower and Memorial Gate
- 1954. 03. 01. Commencement of construction of the Armed Forces Cemetery
- 1953. 09. 15. Completion of site inspection for military cemetery candidate locations
- 1952. 11. 03. Formation of the Military Cemetery Establishment Committee
- 1951. 09. 07. Start of candidate site inspections for the military cemetery