Saturday, May 5, 2012

Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장)

Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장) is an open plaza located just before Gwanghwamun and parallel to Sejong-ro. The plaza showcases a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin, a brilliant naval commander who was instrumental in defending Korea against the Japanese invasions during the Imjin War. A model of the Kobukson, or Turtle Ship, designed by the admiral himself and used to defeat the Japanese is also displayed here. Further down the plaza lies a statue of King Sejong the Great, who developed the Korean phonetic alphabet known as Hangeul, which has been used ever since.

Below the plaza is an underpass leading to Gwanghwamun Station (Subway Line 5) as well as a Haechi Seoul Shop, which sells many souvenirs of Haechi, a mythical animal and mascot of Seoul.



Admiral Yi Sun-Shin


Kobukson (Turtle Ship)



Haechi, a mythical animal and mascot of Seoul


King Sejong the Great

Korean Hangeul alphabets


Gwanghwamun Square as seen from the end (towards Gwanghwamun)

23/04/12

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