Gwanghwamun

Gwanghwamun

When I first visited Gwanghwamun square, tiles and colorful iron sheets covered an area which on my first glance looks like a big LED screen. I was with my professor inside the car for we are going to visit His Eminence Papal Nuncio Osvaldo Padlilla to Korea and Mongolia. He repeatedly told me that the place is Gwanghwamun. Well, I really don’t have any idea about the place so I decided to check out what it is on the net.

Gwanghwamun Square was created by reducing16 lanes of traffic down to 10 in the middle of Sejong-ro, which connects Jongno-gu Gwanghwamun to Sejong-ro intersection and Cheongye Square. Constructed started May 27, 2008, and it opened to the public on August 1, 2009. The 557meter long, 34 meter wide Sejong-ro, the heart of Seoul with 600 years of history, was transformed into a human focused space that harmonizes with the beautiful sceneries of Gyeongbok Palace and Bukak-san, which completed the rebirth of Sejong-ro for historical and cultural experiences. 

"Historical Flow" measures 1 meter wide and 365 meters long on both side edges of square. The east flow has 617 stone boards written with major historical events from 1392 (the start of the Joseon period) to 2008. The west flow has empty stone boards waiting to be recorded for the future. This "Historical Flow" plays a role of passing underground sourced water generated from the Gyeongbok Palace and Gwanghwamun subway stations to Cheongyecheon. 

A fountain installed around the statue of Lee Sun Sin is also known as Music Fountain as it also plays music. However, its official name is "12.23 Fountain," which indicates the great Myeongryang Victory of clearing 133 Japanese ships by 12 Korean ships and Lee Sun Shin's perfect record of 23 wins in 23 battles. 

"Haechi Madang" eases public access through the Square by connecting with Gwanghwamun subway station (line no.5) behind the statue of Lee Sun Sin. This "Hach Ground" has convenience facilities such as Arisu site, information booth, souvenir shops and gallery, elevator, meeting places, and cultural gallery. 

The statue of King Sejong with a height of 9.5 meters and weight of 20 tons was dedicated on October 9, 2009, and is located in front of Sejong Cultural Center. Meaning to create a cultural nation with his creative and practical mind, the status leads to galleries such as "Sejong Story" via an entrance near the statue to the underground area. 

The center of the Square between Sejong Cultural Center and the status of Lee Sun Sin is utilized for various display purposes. The north part of the Square has a colorful "flower carpet" 17.5 meters wide and 162 meters long expressing the number of days from October 28, 1394 (the date of the Joseon Dynasty's settling of Seoul), to August 1, 2009 (the date of the opening of Gwanghwamun Square). 

The "Square of Recovering History of Gwanghwamun" has restored Waldae (the stone placed in front of a palace or castle) and a miniature model representing the past center of the area. The whole renewed area of Gwanghwamun stands as a symbol for the revitalization of Seoul. Hours: 24 hours throughout the year

Directions:

  Get off at Jong-gak station (subway line #1)- exit #1, go 350 meters towards Gwanghwamun

  Get off at the Gyeonbok-gung station (subway line #3)- exit #6, go towards Sejong-ro

  Get off at the Gwanghwamun station (Subway line #5): Exit #2