Restoration of Gwanghwamun Woldae Completed with Seosusang as the Final Touch... Donated by Lee Kun-hee's Family

Two Stone Sculptures Resembling Animals Lying Down Displayed in Outdoor Garden of Yongin Hoam Art Museum
Woldae Construction Gains Momentum, "Closer to Original Appearance"

Two stone sculptures that adorned the front edge of the railing complete the restoration of the Woldae (Moon Platform) at Gwanghwamun in Seoul. These are Seosusang (瑞獸像), figures shaped like auspicious animals. The Cultural Heritage Administration recently announced on the 29th that they were donated by the family of the late Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung Group.

It is estimated that these artifacts were placed on the Woldae in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate, when King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty rebuilt Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1865. Their existence is confirmed in glass plate photographs of Gwanghwamun taken in the 1910s. The platform was constructed in a long form extending in front of the path the king passed. In 1923, during the Japanese colonial period, Gwanghwamun was dismantled and relocated due to the construction of tram tracks and road maintenance. In this process, the Woldae was buried underground, and the whereabouts of the railing components became unknown.

The Seosusang had been displayed in the outdoor garden of the Hoam Art Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The Hoam Art Museum was opened in 1982 based on art collections gathered by the late Lee Byung-chul, founder of Samsung Group. It is said that the Seosusang had been exhibited there since then. How these sculptures came into the possession of the Samsung family remains unclear. The Cultural Heritage Administration only explained, "These stone sculptures were owned by the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee during his lifetime. The family expressed their intention to donate them, and the donation was made through the procedures of the National Palace Museum of Korea."

The Seosusang sculptures depict animals in a lying-down posture. Each is about 2 meters long. Although the two pieces are similar in size and shape, slight differences can be seen in the faces, which have a single horn. Through artifact investigation and expert consultation, the Cultural Heritage Administration judged that they were used in the construction of the Woldae in the past. In particular, they noted that the remains (yugu, traces indicating architectural structures) found in previous excavation surveys have similar length and width. The remains are presumed to be the base stones finishing the side of the stone stairs.

The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "The processed parts on the base stones intended to support the components above match in shape and size. The form, dimensions, and style also correspond to the Woldae of Gwanghwamun as seen in photographic materials." They added, "The carving style is similar yet distinct from the Seosusang of the Woldae at Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung and the Haechi statues at Gwanghwamun. Compared to Seosusang remaining at major palace buildings, these have high academic and artistic value."

With this, the restoration of the Woldae, scheduled to be unveiled in October, has gained further momentum. The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to use the two Seosusang sculptures along with about fifty railing stone components presumed to have been moved to Donggureung in Gyeonggi Province after the Woldae was dismantled. The unveiling is expected around the period of the '2023 Autumn Royal Culture Festival,' held from October 14 to 18. On the previous day, Cultural Heritage Administration Commissioner Choi Eung-cheon presented a letter of appreciation to the family, stating, "By restoring the original components, the restoration can be made closer to its original appearance at the time."

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