Rafael Harpaz, Israel’s ambassador to South Korea, at the opening of the Holocaust Memorial Museum by the Korea Israel Bible Institute in Paju. (Photo: Rafael Harpaz /X)
The Korea Israel Bible Institute (KIBI) has established a Holocaust Museum in South Korea – the first building dedicated for such a purpose.
Professor Man-Seok Song, a leader of the KIBI community, said the museum features an exhibition on the Holocaust, Jewish people and the State of Israel, according to the Times of Israel.
“After October 7, we witnessed a shocking rise in hatred toward Israel and the Jewish people – even here in Korea,” Song explained . “It was a wake-up call for us: we must educate the public about the Jewish people, about the Holocaust, and about the real meaning of genocide. At the same time, we wanted to send a clear message of solidarity and support to the Jewish people.”
KIBI is a non-profit organization established in 1994 in the city of Paju, South Korea. They opened the 180 square meters (1,940 sq.-ft.) museum space in the city as a way of standing against the rapid rise in antisemitism, having raised funds specifically for the project.
Paju has many museums and cultural attractions and KIBI have expressed hope that many will visit as a result.
“We hope it’s a good location to open a Holocaust museum because it will engage audiences who otherwise may not have gone,” Song told the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).
The Times of Israel reported that the opening ceremony on Monday was attended by public figures and diplomats, including Rafi Harpaz, Israel’s ambassador to Korea.
Ambassador Harpaz told guests at the ceremony, “Holocaust remembrance is not a choice – it is a moral duty to the victims, to history and to future generations. This museum is not only a place of memory – it is also a place of education, of truth and of moral responsibility.”
Harpaz emphasized the importance of accurate representation of Holocaust history.
“Distorting the memory of the Holocaust is not an academic debate. It is an assault on justice, on memory and on the dignity of the victims. We have a responsibility to confront these phenomena and to educate the next generation – so they understand the destructive consequences of hatred, indifference and silence,” he said .
Noting that Harpaz had been confronted by pro-Palestinian protesters in Seoul last month, Song argued , “The growing extremism cannot go unanswered.” He added, “This museum is our response – it is a shield of knowledge, of values and of empathy.”
In April, activists encircled the ambassador in a restaurant, accusing him of being complicit in genocide. Song told JNS that such incidents “convinced us we need to educate people in Korea about Jews, Israel, what genocide means. But it’s also important for us to send a message of support and solidarity to the Jewish people.”
The Holocaust Museum Korea includes exhibits related to the events of World War II, including figures in concentration camp uniform and a replica of the trains that transported victims to the death camps. There are additional exhibitions about the establishment of the State of Israel, the Spanish Inquisition and the contributions of Jews to Korean history.
“This museum will play a significant role in commemorating the atrocities committed against the Jewish people, educating future generations, and strengthening our commitment to stand against hatred and intolerance,” Harpaz wrote in a post on 𝕏.
