‘Building Lives, Carrying Memory Forward’ documents the early community of Baekhak-myeon

An exhibition examining the history of a refugee settlement and the memories of its community has opened in Baekhak-myeon, Yeoncheon County.

Building Lives, Carrying Memory Forward opened on Oct. 29 at the Baekhak History Museum and Baekhak Cultural Storehouse.

The exhibition forms part of the 2026 Village Festival for Preserving the Spirit of National Heroes. It was organised by project team Descendants of the Brave, led by Keum Ga-hyun, to examine traces of the settlement’s early years and pass its history on to future generations.

Baekhak-myeon developed as a refugee settlement after the Korean War with support from the United Nations and Canadian military forces.

During the settlement’s early period, residents lived in military tents and constructed their community using relief supplies and locally available materials. The area retains several traces of this history.

Among them are Nogok Elementary School, established by Canadian troops, and a model relief house that was used as accommodation for teachers. The surviving structures provide evidence of the living conditions and community-building efforts of the period.

The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on Mondays. Admission is free, while the outdoor memorial area remains open at all times.

“We hope the exhibition provides an opportunity to reflect on the history of Baekhak and the values associated with national service,” a Yeoncheon County official said. “We also hope residents and visitors can participate in carrying these memories forward.”

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