Monument to Seo Wiryum Jr.

US Navy Lt. William Hamilton Shaw’s Korean name was Seo Wiryum. His parents were Christian missionaries and he was born in Pyeongyang in 1922. After high school, he worked in the US Navy and was in the doctoral program at Harvard University. When the Korean War broke out, he volunteered for the Navy to help the country where he was born and raised, and defend its freedom in time of war. He had served in World War II, so he was not obligated to go to Korea. However, he is said to have followed the Bible’s teaching that ‘Greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ Being fluent in the Korean language and geography near the Seoul area, he contributed to the success of the Incheon Landing as a Naval Intelligence officer, but died at 28 on September 22, 1950 in the Nokbeon-ri Battle while recapturing Seoul. After hearing this story, Dr. Lakjun Baek, the first President of Yonsei University in Seoul and 61 others raised funds and on September 22, 1956 built a monument on the site where he fell. Sixty years after his death, a statue of Lt. Shaw was built in Pyeonghwa Park, in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul in June 2010 and the monument was relocated to the same site.

Monument for Lt. William Hamilton Shaw, U.S. Navy, is now relocated in Pyeonghwa Park, Eunpyeong-gu. The monument was erected in 1956 and the statue added in 2010.
Lt. William Hamilton Shaw, U.S. Navy, was born of missionary parents. He served in the Korean War and died while recapturing Seoul in 1950.

“Since I was born in Korea, I am Korean. How can I comfortably study while there is war in my country? There will be time to study after my country is restored to peace.” This quotation engraved on the base of the statue is an extract from a letter in 1950 to Lt. Colonel Sungho Lee, Korean Navy.
On the base of the monument are his profile, quotes, and genealogy.
The memorial erected by fundraising from 61 people in 1956. The stand is recently donated by his friends and studentsof the 2nd class of Naval Academy.