This massive and intricately- decorated bell and pavilion was donated in 1976 to the people of Los Angeles by the people of the Republic of Korea to celebrate the bicentennial of the U.S. independence, honor veterans of the Korean War, and to consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries. The bell is patterned after the Bronze Bell of King Songdok, which was cast in 771 A.D. and is still on view in South Korea today.

The Korean friendship Bell was cast in Korea and then shipped to the United States . Weighing 17 tons, with a height of twelve feet and a diameter of 7-1/2 feet, the bell is made of copper and tin, with gold, nickel, lead and phosphorous added or tone quality. Four pairs of figures, each pair consisting of the Goddess of Liberty holding a torch, and a Korean spirit, are engraved in relief on the body of the bell. Each of the Korean spirits holds up s different symbol: a symbolic design of the Korean flag; a branch of the rose of Sharon, Korea ¡¯s national flower; a branch of laurel, symbol of victory; and a dove of peace. The bell has no clapper but is struck from the outside with a wooden log.

The bell is set in a pagoda-like stone structure which was constructed on the site by thirty craftsmen flown in from Korea and it took 10 months to complete. The pavilion is supported by 12 columns representing the twelve designs of the Asian zodiac animals that stand guard at the base of each column.

Resting peacefully at the knoll overlooking the sea gate from which U.S. troops sailed n the Pacific, the bell site affords an unsurpassed view of the Los Angeles harbor, the Catalina Channel and the sea terraces of San Pedro hill. The bell is rung only four times each year: the Fourth of July, August 15 (Korean Independence Day) and New Years Eve, and every September to coincide with bell ringing around the country to celebrate constitution week.
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