[The Police File]Gwanghwamun Square Must Become a Space for Communication and Rest

On the 6th of last month, when Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul opened, citizens were cooling off in the fountain within the square. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Citizens Visiting for Rest

Frowning at Protests Disguised as Culture

Returning to Its Original Function of Leisure

Must Be Reborn as a Square for Citizens

"Ah, a day in the square, is there any greater joy in life?" Robert Browning, a 19th-century British Romantic poet and playwright, praised the value of urban squares in this way. He seemed to emphasize that the rest and leisure enjoyed in the square were more satisfying than any other form of healing. Major cities around the world inevitably have squares symbolizing their regional identity. Examples include Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Moscow’s Red Square, Paris’s Place de la Concorde, New York’s Times Square, and London’s Trafalgar Square. They all share the commonality of being transportation hubs where people can easily gather and disperse, as well as historical and cultural sites that have witnessed significant national events.

Seoul’s representative square, Gwanghwamun Square, has been attracting citizens since its reopening a month ago. Thanks to the removal of six lanes on the left side of the original square, access to the square has become much easier. The square’s area has doubled compared to before, and the green space has increased accordingly. Couples chatting and resting, office workers strolling with takeout coffee cups in hand, children playing by the fountain without noticing the time?all welcomed the returning square in their own ways.

However, a controversy has arisen in the seemingly peaceful Gwanghwamun Square. Large and small rallies and protests have been held continuously around the square since its reopening. Along with citizens’ dissatisfaction over losing their resting space, the mingling crowds with protesters have raised safety concerns, sparking heated public debate over the pros and cons of demonstrations. Unable to tolerate this any longer, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has established a policy to prohibit rallies and protests in Gwanghwamun Square. An advisory panel of experts will pre-screen events based on their nature, number of attendees, noise, traffic, and other environmental impacts to prevent such gatherings as much as possible. Even when permits are granted, the usable space will be minimized.

Civic groups immediately opposed this. They argue that freedom of assembly is a constitutional right, and restricting it through ordinances is unconstitutional. Seoul City counters that it does not reject applications based on political judgment but regulates when the stated purpose differs from the actual content. The ordinance on the use and management of Gwanghwamun Square stipulates that the square’s purpose is solely for “citizens’ wholesome leisure and cultural activities.” Nevertheless, various political and group-interest-driven rallies and protests disguised as “culture” or “memorials” have frequently swept through the streets. The square and roads have been filled with noise, and when protests escalated into violent demonstrations, the inconvenience and suffering fell entirely on the citizens. This has reignited criticism that Gwanghwamun Square, symbolizing Seoul’s culture and history, is losing its function as a cultural and leisure space as defined by law.

Gwanghwamun Square’s initial construction in 2009 cost about 70 billion won, and an additional 80 billion won in taxes was invested this time. Citizens who collectively contributed 150 billion won hope that Gwanghwamun Square will be reborn not as a battleground stained by political and ideological conflicts but as a true space for communication and rest. Once marginalized as an outlet for political strife, Gwanghwamun Square is expected to become a genuine citizens’ square where meetings, strolls, and healing harmonize with its reopening. May Browning’s exclamation, “Ah, a day in the square, is there any greater joy in life?” naturally come from the mouths of citizens once again.

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