Friendship Bell Rings for Korean War Veterans
San Pedro's Angels Gate Park marked the Turn Toward Busan memorial with a ceremonial bell ringing and bagpipe tribute.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Civic
The Friendship Bell Foundation held a ceremonial bell ringing and memorial tribute at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro on Tuesday, November 10, honoring United Nations soldiers and Korean War veterans who fought from 1950 to 1953. The observance was part of the annual Turn Toward Busan Memorial Ceremony and Field of Valor.
Why it matters
The ceremony recognizes Korean War service members and keeps attention on the bell, a gift from the Republic of Korea to the United States for America's bicentennial. It also reflects a continuing partnership between Los Angeles city departments, local veterans groups and Korean veterans organizations.
The bell weighs more than 17 tons and was assembled in 1976 by about 30 South Korean craftsmen before being hung on a hilltop in September 1976. The observance began at 5 p.m. with a moment of silence, and attendance figures for the ceremony were not reported.
The players
Friendship Bell Foundation
The foundation sponsored the San Pedro memorial and oversees the Korean Friendship Bell in Angels Gate Park.
Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
The city department that partnered on the memorial and manages the park where the bell is located.
Tim McOsker
Los Angeles City Councilmember who partnered on the memorial ceremony.
The details
The observance began with a moment of silence and the ceremonial bell ringing at 5 p.m., followed by a live bagpipe tribute that echoed across the bluffs toward Busan. The memorial was held in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Councilmember Tim McOsker, the Korean War Memorial Foundation of Los Angeles, the Korean War Veterans Association, and the Republic of Korea Army Association.
Timeline
1950 to 1953: Korean War period honored by the memorial ceremony.
1976: About 30 South Korean craftsmen arrived in San Pedro to assemble the bell structure.
September 1976: The bell was hung in its frame on a hilltop in Angels Gate Park.
Tuesday, November 10, 5 p.m.: Ceremonial bell ringing and bagpipe tribute held.
Roadmap
The bell was installed in 1976 as a bicentennial gift from South Korea, and this ceremony extends that relationship by linking the bell's ringing to Korean War remembrance. The annual Turn Toward Busan observance continues the tradition of marking the war's service members through shared Korean and American commemoration.
Visitors to Angels Gate Park in San Pedro can view the Korean Friendship Bell and the memorial site. The ceremony highlights a local landmark that residents can visit to learn about the Korean War and its connection to the community.
The takeaway
The annual Turn Toward Busan observance keeps Korean War service visible in Los Angeles, and the Friendship Bell offers a tangible place for residents to reflect on that history.
Further reading
Explore more Civic news in Los Angeles for context on local commemorations.
