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The Statue of Brothers 형제의 상  (兄弟의 像) is a symbol of the Korean War at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul.
The “Statue of Brothers” is 18 meters wide and 11 meters high, and symbolizes the division of Korea. The upper part of the statue depicts a fictional story where a family’s older brother, an ROK officer, and his younger brother, a North Korean soldier, meet on a battlefield and express reconciliation, love, and forgiveness. The lower dome is in the shape of traditional graves in Korea and was built with pieces of granite collected from nationwide locations, symbolizing the sacrifices made by all areas of the peninsula. The crack in the dome stands for the division of Korea and the hope for reunification. Objects inside the dome include a mosaic wall painting that expresses the spirit of the Korean people to overcome the national tragedy and a map plate of the 16 UN Allied Nations that dispatched troops to the war. The links of iron chain on the ceiling signify the unbreakable bonds of a unified Korea.
However, the statue also has a more ominous and provocative meaning. The larger, older brother is armed, while the younger brother appears defenseless and weak. While the personification of South Korea looks down with a heroic, determined expression, the North Korea looks up with admiration and gratitude. The sculptor has described the South Korean soldier’s embrace as “forgiving”, further emphasizing the statue’s alternative role of glorifying the inevitable defeat of communism and the victory of democracy.

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