Olympic Park

 Olympic Park

I was so excited to visit the Seoul Olympic Park because the event was held last 1988, my birthyear. The visit to the place was unexpected, my friend from the Philippines visited Seoul for a few days and he send a message to me that he was already there. Since his itinerary was flexible we decided to meet at the COEX mall and after lunch head to this humongous sports memorial.

That's the rock from the Philippines

The Seoul Olympic Park, shortened to Olpark, is an Olympic Park built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu, Bangi-dong

Covering over 1.5 million square meters and the ancient site of the Mongchon Toseong Fortress (with its moat dating back to the early Baekche Kingdom), Olympic Park preserves the spirit of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The stadiums, arranged in a fan-shaped pattern around the park, were the main stages for the sports events. With extensive grassy fields, sculpture gardens, walking paths, and rest areas, the park is open all day as a multi-purpose area for leisure, sports, and cultural activities.

Sports
Many people use the Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, and three gymnasiums for many different types of sporting events and activities. In addition, classes in swimming, aerobics, physical fitness, table tennis, and others are offered on a regular basis. Every morning, hundreds of people come to the park for exercise and fitness. During Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the summer months, enjoy cycle racing at the velodrome track. In addition to sporting events, many of the stadiums are also used for concerts and other events that draw large crowds
Seoul Olympic MuseumCommemorative monuments and the Seoul Olympic Museum preserve the inspiration of the Seoul Olympics. World Peace Gate, "Rendezvous in Seoul," and the "Wall of Glory" are included with various other items in the Seoul Olympic Museum and will remain as a great legacy to our descendants. Over 200 sculptures made by 155 world-renowned artists are scattered around the park.     

The World Peace GateThe imposing steel frame and reinforced iron structure is 24 meters high, 37 meters wide, and 62 meters in length. The structure's wing-shaped design evokes both beauty and majesty. By bringing together elements of traditional and modern architecture, the architect conveys the images of a leap forward and of ascension. The lower side of the structure's wing-lke ceiling containspaintings of various symbolic forms including a blue dragon, a phoenix, tiger, andturtle.The painting, done by Paek Geum-nam (a noted painter and professor of Sunggyungwan University), uses the traditional Korean Dancheongpattern, covering the entire area of the wings' lower part. On the sides of the gate's facade are 30 traditional Korean masks atop columns. The masks by sculptor Lee Seung-taek are 60 centimeters in diameter and 85 centimeters high; the columns are 60 centimeters in diameter and three meters high.

The Paintings of Four Spirits
With straights and curves as the basic lines, blue and red (symbolic of Korea's flag, Daeguk) were used as the main colors to represent the concept of Um and Yang (yin/yang), the Oriental symbols representing the two opposites of the universe, as well as the spirit of creativity. Choojag (a spirit shaped as a red phoenix that guards the south), Hyunmoo (a spirit shaped as a black turtle that guards the north),Bakho (a spirit shaped as a white tiger that guards the west), and Cheongrong (a spirit shaped as a blue dragon that guards the east) are the four spirits appearing in the mural paintings of Koguryo era mounds. The images of their ascension to heaven signifies life against the body and freedom against spirit, in addition to the dauntlessness and strength of the Korean people. This visionary expression serves to ensure the balance between the ceiling and the rest of the gate. The strong coloring represents both the Danch'eong color of Korea's ancient buildings and the dignity, splendor, and grandeur of this memorial gate.

  
Mochon Tosong FortressLittle was known about this earthen wall (Historic Site #297) until five excavations were made from 1983-88 by the Seoul National University's museum after the area was selected for construction of the 1988 Olympic facilities. The fortress was restored on the basis of the knowledge gained through those excavations. The wall was built with earth sometime in the early days of the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.-A.D.660) along the natural contour of the land made by the shore of this tributary of the Han River. Traces of palisades were found along the northern end for added defense. This part was doubly reinforced by a moat, and the overall function of the fortress seems to have been defense against attacks from the north. Sites of pit dwellings, storage pits, and tombs with jar coffins were located. Excavators found Baekje earthenware, fishing books, weapons, stone mortars, and other relics, giving a glimpse of how people lived during the days when thePaekche capital was in this area.      

Stele of Chosun Dynasty Minister Kim Ku (1649-1704)
This monument (designated Seoul Tangible Cultural Property #59 ) was set up in 1743 as a monument to Kim Ku who served as premier for King Sukjong (r.1674-1720) during the Joseon Dynasty. Born to Kim Jing, a provincial governor, Kim Ku entered government service by winning the first place in the 1682 civil service examination and served in several high positions, including chief Advisor to the King, Grand Judge, Minister, and eventually Prime Minister. This granite tomb stele is a piece of art: its beautifully engraved capstone features auspicious patterns and legendary figures such as a dragon and phoenix. Beautiful poetry and elegant calligraphy add to the grandeur of this stele.

Gommal BridgeGommal Bridge means a bridge found in the dream village. Gommal, an archaism of gummaul (dream village) is a pure Korean word for monghon, the bridge's former name. In an effort to make use of classical beautiful words, the geographical name c.ncil of the Seoul metropolitan government gave this bridge its new name in 1986.

Hours:
Weekdays (Sunrise ~ Sunset) ~ 22:00
Haneol Plaza, Peace Plaza - 05:30 ~ 22:00
Open throughout the year 

Admission: Free 

Directions:
Subway line 2, Jamsil Station, Seongnae Station
Subway line 5, Olympic Park Station
Subway line 8, Mongchontoseong Station 

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