The Road Linds Travels

A visit to the Korean Friendship Bell at San Pedro’s Angels Gate Park offers near panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Lovers walk hand in hand, skateboards roll along concrete walkways in disregard to “no skateboarding” signs, and kites soar in the ocean breeze. In the distance, the mariachi music from Ports O’ Call continued as a band of sharply dressed men shot a video in the grassy knoll with Catalina Island and a beautiful, blue sky as their backdrop. Needless to say, my Sunday afternoon was well spent.

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KOREAN FRIENDSHIP BELL’S JANGSEUNG

Upon entering the path to the bell, two totem pole figures, a man and a woman, greeted me with open-mouthed grins. I could almost hear their chortles. As a result, I desired to be in on the joke. Instantly intrigued by their history, I later learned that Korean totem poles are known as jangseung. They were typically used to ward off demons. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of an explanation for these jangseung at the actual park. I had to do my own digging and research later.

The bell itself is grand – the pagoda that houses it is equally as impressive. After posting a photo of its colorful and intricate design, my auntie wondered whether or not I was still in California. I can understand why.

FAMILY HISTORY

Donated to the people of Los Angeles in 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial of U.S. independence and to honor Korean War veterans, the bell symbolizes the friendship between the U.S. and The Republic of Korea. My late grandfather was a Korean War veteran. He often spoke very highly of the Korean people and the time he spent in that region of the world. He and my grandmother almost named their first-born son after the boy in this photo, Kim. They ultimately decided that having such a different, oftentimes, female name wouldn’t be in his best social interest. Hey, at least they weren’t planning on naming him after an inanimate object, also known as a piece of fruit, also known as a grape or an apple or a, well, you get the picture…

RINGING OF THE KOREAN FRIENDSHIP BELL

They ring the Korean Friendship bell five times a year. I intend to be present for one of these moments in the near future.

• Fourth of July
• Korean Independence Day (August 15^th)
• New Year’s Eve
• During Constitution Week (Sept. 17-23), in accordance with other bell ringings around the U.S.
• Korean American Day (January 13th)