The cemetery, located in the district of Dongjak, was first established as a military cemetery in July 1955. In July 2005, it was elevated to a national cemetery where firefighters and those who sacrificed their lives to save others can also be laid to rest. Former heads of state, including Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, Kim Dae-jung, and Kim Young-sam, are buried at the cemetery.
![Front view of the Hyeonchungmun Gate at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak district Seoul on June 10 2024 The Memorial Tower can be seen in the background AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2024/06/10/20240610172231728960.jpg)
![One of the landmarks of the Seoul National Cemetery the Memorial Tower Beneath the tower memorial tablets are enshrined bearing only the names of fallen patriots whose remains have yet to be found AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2024/06/10/20240610172432333822.jpg)
![The most recently created tomb of the unknown soldier dedicated especially to commemorating the Student Volunteer Army AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2024/06/10/20240610172613180640.jpg)
![Korean national flags and flowers adorn each gravestone at the Seoul National Cemetery AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2024/06/10/20240610172818917247.jpg)
![Seoul National Cemeterys military personnel burial area In addition to this section countless Korean War casualties and fallen patriots are laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2024/06/10/20240610172945353199.jpg)
![MND Agency for KIA Recovery Identification is actively encouraging citizens to provide DNA samples from descendants to aid in identifying the remains of fallen soldiers To participate in providing samples or to report information on the whereabouts of remains the toll-free number is on this picture AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2024/06/10/20240610173112420310.jpg)