The Korean War Veterans Memorial is consist of the Pool of Remembrance and the triangular Field of Service depicting 19 soldiers on the field of combat.

On October 28, 1986, Congress authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor members of the U.S. armed forces who served in the Korean War. The Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to recommend a site and design, and to raise construction funds.

Ground was broken in November 1993. Frank Gaylord was chosen as the principal sculptor of the statues and Louis Nelson was selected to create the mural of etched faces on the wall. On July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War, the memorial was dedicated by President William J. Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea.