This illustration of the new Gwanghwamun Square shows the increased space for strolling and the addition of new fountains and trees. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Anticipation mounting ahead of Aug. 6 opening after 21-month-long renovation

By Ko Dong-hwan

Under the scorching summer heat that has been continuing for weeks across Seoul and the rest of the country, the soon-to-be-reopened Gwanghwamun Square isn't just offering extra shade from the sun. After opening on Aug. 6, it is expected to become a go-to spot for kids in search of summer fun and those wishing to learn about the history of the grand open space that has for decades been the main public space of not just the city but the whole country.

After being closed in 2020 for renovations, the space, flanked by Gwanghwamun Palace to the north, the Government Complex Seoul and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts to the west and the U.S. Embassy to the east, is finally reopening on Aug. 6. The plaza will be curtained off for its reopening celebration, with a special outside ceremony featuring congratulatory speeches by dignitaries including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and orchestral performances.

The renovated square will be 40,300 square meters in size, more than double the size of the previous one at 18,840 square meters. The long rectangular space's width has also been extended from 35 meters to 60 meters, becoming more spacious for pedestrians. Five thousand newly planted trees, including 300 tall ones, have increased the square's space for flora from 2,839 square meters to 9,367 square meters, providing more cover from the sunlight in summer.

The increase in size also means more space for demonstrations and protests. The city government has designated the 5,275 square meters of the square's northern lawn and the open space in front of the bronze statue of King Sejong at the square's center for public activities, 1.3 times bigger than the previously delineated area. The free space for unplanned activities also more than doubled from 14,840 to 35,025 square meters.

Statues of Yi Sun-shin and King Sejong (behind) will grab attention of passersby better at night with focused lights and water fountains. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

The Gwanghwamun Square Project Division under the city government's Balanced Development Headquarters said it will start accepting requests to use the square for demonstrations and other public purposes from Aug. 8 and open it for use starting Aug. 22.

Another big change is that roads that once surrounded the square are now grouped together east of the square. The entire square has been shifted to the west, closer to the entrances of Sejong Center, Sejongno Park and the Government Complex.

Having reached 91 percent completion as of Monday, the renovation brought dynamism to the square through the constant motion of fountains, streams and colorful media lights.

In front of the Sejong Center will be hundreds of fountains shooting jets of water in unison in the shape of a 40-meter-long tunnel or the letters of Hangul, the Korean writing system created in the 1400s by King Sejong. Behind the King Sejong statue will be a "media glass" showcasing various media arts, including depictions of the achievements of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-shin, taekwondo, and the works of debuting artists.

At the wide-open exit 9 of Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Metro Line 5, a media wall will be installed to show various video art, including a virtual aquarium. The Sejong Center and KT's office building to the east will also have media facades decorating the area's nightscape with video shows.

Workers clean the statue of King Sejong at Gwanghwamun Square, Monday, as the place is under renovation scheduled until early next month. Joint Press Corps

Remnants of an office of national audit and inspection from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties unearthed at the square's site during the renovation will also grab the eyes of passersby. Following Mayor Oh's initiative since the square was introduced in 2009 to emphasize the site's historical value, the archaeological relics will be exhibited at the site where they were discovered ― a sunken place 1.2 meters depth. The city government in May 2021 released to the public the entire process of unearthing the remains, which has drawn rave responses.

Yeo Jang-kwon, chief of the Balanced Development Headquarters, said the square has been the central space of the whole country and a symbol of Seoul, connecting the past to the present and people to arts while providing a platform for people to share various opinions.

"It will be reopened with natural beauty, providing comfortable vegetation mixed with history and culture," Yeo said. "We hope the new square will be filled with the footsteps of many visitors."

The city government on Monday began cleaning King Sejong's and Yi Sun-shin's statues with high-pressure water jets ahead of the square's reopening. The last time the authority cleaned them was 27 months ago before the renovations began.