Media Art 'Gwanghwahwacheop' Debuts at New 'Gwanghwamun Square'

With the opening on the 6th, a 53m-long large media wall at the entrance of Haechi Madang showcases dazzling lights and sound

On the 29th, about a week before the reopening of Gwanghwamun Square, a view of the square was seen from the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Gwanghwamun Square, which has been reborn as a space 2.1 times larger in total area and abundant with forests and shade, will open on the 6th of next month. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 6th, the ‘Gwanghwamun Square,’ returning to the citizens, will be adorned daily with dazzling light and sound media art.

On the 2nd, Seoul City announced that along with the opening of ‘Gwanghwamun Square,’ a large LED panel media wall (video screen) measuring 53m in length and up to 3.25m in height (area 106㎡) will showcase 4K high-resolution media art works at the entrance of Haechi Madang (in front of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts). The newly installed cube-shaped glass structure (media glass) at the entrance of ‘Sejong Story’ behind the statue of King Sejong will also serve as a media art exhibition space.

The first work to be presented on the media wall at the Haechi Madang entrance with the opening of Gwanghwamun Square is 'Gwanghwahwacheop' (by artists Lee Yesung and Hong Yuri), themed on the fundamental elements of Hangul, ‘天·地·人 (Cheonjiin - Heaven, Earth, and Human).’ It was completed after six months of production.

Works inspired by the past, present, and future of Gwanghwamun?from Yukjo Street 600 years ago to the new Gwanghwamun Square?people of Seoul, and Seoul’s nature and forests will be displayed daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the large display. The feature is that it is not just a display but a ‘citizen-participatory interactive media art’ where any citizen visiting Gwanghwamun Square can participate to complete the artwork. By scanning the QR code displayed on the screen with a smartphone, visitors can send their own drawings or photos to be included in the media wall artwork. For those who have difficulty using smartphones, on-site assistants are available to help.

The cube-shaped ‘media glass’ (4.8m wide, 3.35m high) installed at the front entrance leading to the underground exhibition hall of ‘Sejong Story’ behind the statue of King Sejong will also offer various visual experiences through media art. It will showcase diverse works including the achievements of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, Hangul content, and creative works by emerging artists.

By making the previously less noticeable entrance of ‘Sejong Story’ more easily recognizable to citizens, it is expected that more visitors will come to Sejong Story, and the connected Chungmugong Story (Admiral Yi Sun-sin Exhibition Hall) will also be revitalized.

Meanwhile, Gwanghwamun Square will reopen on the 6th after transforming into a park-like square rich with forests and shade, following one year and nine months of construction. On the evening of the same day at 7 p.m., Seoul City will hold the Gwanghwamun Square Opening Commemoration Event, ‘Gwanghwamun Square Bitmorak (樂),’ with citizens.

Yeo Jang-kwon, Director of Seoul City’s Balanced Development Headquarters, said, "We will continue to exhibit better works so that citizens can take pride," adding, "We will promote the activation of creative exhibitions by emerging artists so that Gwanghwamun Square can establish itself as a representative media art platform frequently visited by citizens and tourists."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.