The Korean War Veterans Memorial's design and construction was managed by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board and the American Battle Monuments Commission.
It was dedicated on July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the war, by Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea.
As with all National Park Service historic areas, the memorial was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on the day of its dedication.
The circle contains the Pool of Remembrance, a shallow 30-foot-diameter pool lined with black granite and surrounded by a grove of trees with benches. Inscriptions list the numbers killed, wounded, missing in action, and held as prisoners of war.