Gwanghwamun Square

The almost 20,000m2 Gwanghwamun Square is located at the center of Sejong-ro, which connects Gwanghwamun Gate and Cheonggye Square. The “Recovering the History of Gwanghwamun Gate Plaza” section is at the entrance of the plaza, where a stone base called Woldae and a statue of Haetae, a mythical unicorn-lion that is said to protect palaces from fire, have been restored.

The Statue of King Sejong the Great has been relocated in the “Korea Main Plaza” where Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, is projected on a fountain water screen. Between the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin is the “Civil Participation Urban Culture Plaza” with a range of attractions and services including accommodation facilities for visitors, exhibition halls, elevators, a meeting plaza, and art galleries. “Downtown Plaza,” located near the Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin, symbolizes Sejong-ro. The Square has water facilities such as a pond and pop-jet fountains. The “Cheonggyecheon Stream Connector” functions as a walking path connecting Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

In addition, there is the “Memorial Waterway,” flowing underground water, which goes from both Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun subway stations to Cheonggyecheon Stream. Plus, behind the Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin is “Sunken Square” which connects Gwanghwamun subway station and the ground allowing people to access the Square more easily.

Two statues of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and Sejong the Great, who are great and influential people in Korean history, are situated at Gwanghwamun Square where the beatification ceremony will take place. Visitors can see “Waterways of History” and “King Sejong Story” exhibitions, the latter of which highlights the achievements of King Sejong and history of Hangeul.

Address: 172 Sejong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Phone: 0082-2-120

Website: http://plaza.seoul.go.kr/gwanghwamun

Opening hours: 24hours

Fees: Free

Subway: City Hall Station at Line 1, Gyeongbokgung Station at Line 3, Gwanghwamun Station at Line 5