Public Places : This Bell Tolls for Friendship

For the estimated 400,000 Korean Americans who call Southern California home, the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro embodies the ties between the old world and the new. The 17-ton copper alloy bell, believed to be the largest Oriental bell in the world, rests on an oceanside bluff in Angels Gate Park, where huge guns defended the coast in World War I. The bell was a gift from the people of South Korea to the United States during the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. It is patterned after the Bronze Bell constructed by King Songdok in 771 and rings out three times a year: July 4, Korean independence day Aug. 15, and at midnight Jan. 1.

STEVE CHO

L.A. businessman and general secretary of the Advisory Council for the Democratic and Peaceful Unification of Korea.

“The Statue of Liberty is on the East Coast, a gift of Europeans. Asian immigrants are on the West Coast and, for us, the Korean Friendship Bell is our Statue of Liberty. It commemorates the day in 1945 when we were freed from the Japanese occupation. This was also the day Korea got divided. Below the 38th Parallel the U.S. stepped in, while the Russians occupied the north. The bell is very important to the Korean American community. We now have plans to donate a gate at the entrance to the park similar to the famous South Gate in Seoul.”

JOONHO LEE

Director, Korean Cultural Center

“Why a bell? Traditionally, Korea is a Buddhist country. Every temple has its own bell. Very early in the morning, they ring the bell and the day starts. For Koreans, this kind of bell-ringing is a symbol of a good start or celebration.”

Public Places columnist Jane Spiller welcomes suggestions for interesting places that are publicly accessible and free. Contact her c/o VOICES.