A Visit To The Korean Friendship Bell

I have been meaning to visit the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro, CA for a while now. My mom sent me an article about its restoration in 2013, and I made a mental note of it. Earlier this month, we finally found the time to check it out.

Getting There

I typed in Korean Friendship Bell in Google Maps and we headed for San Pedro. After crossing two bridges (no tolls) we could see the bell tower up on a hill. However, the park had a chain link fence around it, and there was no visible entrance. My tip is to keep driving around the perimeter of the park and you will come upon the open (and free!) Angels Gate Park parking lot.

Korean Friendship Bell History

According to the city of San Pedro website, Korea donated the bell in 1976 to the people of Los Angeles “to celebrate the bicentennial of the U.S. independence, honor veterans of the Korean War, and to consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries.”

As we approached the bell, the immense size of the bell was immediately impressive. The bell itself weighs 17 tons, is twelve feet tall, and has a diameter of 7.5 feet. Upon closer inspection, the amazing craftmanship and intricate designs become apparent. As you can see, the pavilion also offers a magnificent view of the Pacific as well.

I am not sure what this says in Korean, but I am guessing it says “Korean Friendship Bell”?

I was expecting to see more signage with information about the monument, but the only thing we spotted was this plaque. While unification seems highly unlikely, there is always hope.

This is the hill we hiked up in order to see the bell. When we returned to our car, k started running downhill and almost couldn’t stop.

Our visit to the Korean Friendship Bell made for a nice family outing. We were able to enjoy some fresh air, take in a beautiful ocean view and marvel at a stunning cultural monument up close. Since there was only one other group on the Saturday morning that we went, it was easy to socially distance. If you are in the area, I would recommend that you stop by!

Korean Friendship Bell 3601 S Gaffey St San Pedro, CA 90731