Places On Saipan: The Korean Peace Memorial

Basic Information

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

Narrative

The north side of the American island of Saipan has some very scenic peaks, high cliffs, thick jungle and ocean views that make this my favorite part of the island.  However, all the beauty on the north side of the island is marred by its World War II past which is very evident today with the many memorials and relics from the war.  The first memorial that can be seen when driving to north side of the island is the Korean Peace Memorial:

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

During the three week Battle of Saipan which began on June 15, 1944, approximately 55,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians died in the fighting.  Of that number up to 1,000 of the war dead are believed to be Korean civilians that were brought to Saipan to work in the sugar industry.  Korea became a colony of Imperial Japan in 1910 and just like Saipan only became free of Japanese rule at the end of World War II:

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

Around the memorial there are various markers left by different groups that have visited the memorial such as a class from the Korean Air Force Academy:

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

The memorial is built directly in front of the very scenic Mt. Marpi:

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

Mt. Marpi is an 800 foot cliff more commonly referred to as “Suicide Cliff” since it is where hundreds of Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped to their deaths instead of surrendering to US forces during the Battle of Saipan.  Here is a picture Mt. Marpi from the nearby Veterans’ Cemetery:

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

Here is a view of the memorial looking in the opposite direction from Mt. Marpi towards the blue waters of the Philippine Sea with the US and South Korean flags in the foreground:

Korean Peace Memorial On Saipan

Conclusion

The Korean Peace Memorial is part of a larger peace park in northern Saipan.  It is well worth stopping here to see the Korean Peace Memorial, the Okinawa Peace Memorial, the Monument to the War Dead in the Mid-Pacific and the Last Command Post.  After viewing the memorials at this park the nearby Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff can be driven to that offer spectacular views of northern Saipan.

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Douglas Westfall
8 years ago

“Saipan Island to the Japanese, was considered the last line of defense for Japan. For the Allies, it was the critical position in the war plan, as it would provide a base from which to run bombing raids over Japan itself. Some 1,500 miles from the Japanese Islands, the Superfortress aircraft — the B-29s — could indeed reach Japan from As Lito Field on Saipan.” — Douglas Westfall taken from “The Taking of Saipan”

With over 250 illustrations — The Taking of Saipan — has more unpublished photos than any other book on Saipan during WWII.
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