Water Cleaning of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin Statues at Gwanghwamun Square on the Morning of the 9th

On April 9 last year, cleaning workers were using low-pressure washers to clean the statue of General Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Welcoming the new spring, the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Square are taking a bath to wash away the fine dust and grime accumulated over the winter, greeting citizens with a much fresher appearance.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that on the 9th, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., professional personnel and equipment (low-pressure washers) will be deployed to clean the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Square. Due to the recent worsening fine dust, thick layers of grime have covered the statues, making water cleaning and foreign substance removal necessary.

Various facilities at Gwanghwamun Square are regularly cleaned to maintain cleanliness, but since the statues require special equipment and professional personnel, Seoul conducts a cleaning operation once every spring.

In particular, since dust and other foreign substances accumulated on the statues can accelerate metal corrosion along with air pollution components, experts from various fields inspected the casting condition and stone slabs a day before the cleaning, on the 8th.

Baek Woon-seok, Director of the Regeneration Policy Division at Seoul City, said, "Once the cleaning is completed, you will be able to see the freshly refurbished statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin."