Korea-Mexico Friendship Bell

The bell of King Seongdeok of Silla, also known as Emile Bell (“emile” meaning “mommy” in the Silla language) is one of South Korea’s National Treasures (#29), so it makes sense that reproductions of this important object are often used by the country’s government as gifts of goodwill. One of the best-known examples is found in Los Angeles, while Mexico City has a pair of its own.

The first of these was gifted in 2010 and can be found in the Parque Bicentenario (Bicentennial Park), on the city’s northwest. The other, donated two years later, is located more centrally, right in front of the well-known Mothers’ Monument. Both are smaller than the original, although still impressive in their dimensions. Weighing nearly one ton, the bronze bells are four feet (1.4 meters) tall and with a diameter of 80 centimeters.

Despite the two-year difference between their giftings, these two bells were given by the South Korean government in order to celebrate the centennial of the start of the Mexican Revolution, and the bicentennial of the start of the War of Independence, both commemorated in 2010.

The 2012 date is also appropriate as it represented 50 years since diplomatic relations between South Korea and Mexico were established. Their respective plaques have text in both Spanish and Korean.