In July, Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square Returns to Citizens... Total Area Expands 2.1 Times Larger

Sejong Center Announces Completion of 'Citizen Plaza' by June
Plaza Width Expanded 1.7 Times, Green Space 3.3 Times, 47 Tree Species Planted and Benches Installed Throughout

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Gwanghwamun Square will return to the citizens in July.

On the 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that construction on the 'Citizen Square,' adjacent to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, will be completed by June and fully opened in July. The total area of Gwanghwamun Square, created by removing the existing roadway and expanding the pedestrian path, will be 40,300㎡, which is 2.1 times larger than the original 18,840㎡. The width of the square will also expand from 35m to 60m, approximately 1.7 times wider.

Notably, about one-quarter of the entire square area, 9,367㎡, will be transformed into a park-like square covered in greenery. The green space will increase 3.3 times from the previous 2,830㎡. To allow citizens to enjoy the four seasons and relax in the urban environment, 47 species of trees such as Cornus officinalis and magnolia, which herald spring, along with 91,070 herbaceous plants, will be planted.

The Citizen Square facing the Sejong Center, where the roadway has been removed, is currently undergoing underground remodeling work (Haechi Yard) that can be carried out even in winter, following burial work for buried cultural assets and foundation work for stone slab paving. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to complete the stone slab paving, planting, and installation of major facilities within the square by June, before the rainy season. The city explained, "With the Serious Accident Punishment Act coming into effect on the 27th, the opening date originally scheduled for April was postponed to ensure the construction company does not rush the work due to time pressure and to reduce the risk of safety accidents by applying an appropriate construction period."

Water features utilizing water will also be installed throughout the square. The 'Historical Water Path' will include records from its creation in 2009 up to the new Gwanghwamun Square this year, with the waterway planned to be 260m long, enhancing its role as a space for historical and cultural storytelling. Additionally, a 'Water Table' shaped like a pool of water and a 'Tunnel Fountain' for children to enjoy will be newly created.

Following this, the 'Hangeul Fountain,' embodying King Sejong's spirit of the people and the principles of the creation of Hangeul, will be constructed. Around the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the 12·23 Fountain commemorating the 12 warships and 23 victories will be refurbished, and a new victory monument for the 12 warships and 23 victories will be installed to revive the historical significance through storytelling.

The existing Haechi Yard will be expanded with outdoor stands where citizens can sit, making it more convenient to use. A media wall will be installed on the sloped wall, which was previously a concrete wall, to create a space where various content can be enjoyed.

Among the Joseon Dynasty cultural assets excavated within the Gwanghwamun Square project site, the site of the Saheonbu (Office of the Inspector General) will have some remains such as the gate site, well, and drainage exposed and displayed as they were found, allowing visitors to vividly experience the historical site. Other excavated sites from the Joseon Dynasty, including government offices, private houses, walls, and waterways, will be reburied to preserve the cultural assets.

Meanwhile, the northern historical square of Gwanghwamun Square, which is key to restoring the square's historicity, will proceed with the restoration of the Woldae (stone platform) and Haechi statue in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Administration, with completion planned by 2023. Seoul's Balanced Development Headquarters Director Yeo Jang-kwon said, "Ahead of the July opening, we will conduct thorough pre-inspections to ensure citizens can safely and conveniently enjoy the square," adding, "We will do our best to manage the construction process stably so that Gwanghwamun Square opens without delay in July and becomes a representative square of Korea and an urban resting place where citizens can visit anytime to heal."