[Harumanbo] Reborn as a 'Luxury Walking Path'... A Lap Around Gwanghwamun Square

Today's walking course heads to Gwanghwamun Square. Gwanghwamun Square is located where Yukjo Street stood during the Joseon Dynasty, and major government offices were situated here. It is still considered one of Seoul's main tourist attractions.

Gwanghwamun Square first took shape as a plaza in 2009 when the central divider was transformed into a square alongside the restoration of Gwanghwamun Gate. At that time, Gwanghwamun Square was in the middle of Sejong-daero, so visitors had to cross a crosswalk to access the square. Later, with a new plaza construction project, the western side of Sejong-daero was connected to the square. Construction began in November 2021 and was completed in the first half of last year, and Gwanghwamun Square reopened to the public in August of last year.

The course starts at Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 6 and immediately heads to Gwanghwamun Square. Exiting here leads directly to the square. At Gwanghwamun Square, you can find statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, Haechi Madang connected to Gwanghwamun Station, a historical trail showcasing the history from the founding of Joseon to present-day South Korea, the Hangul Fountain that forms the Korean alphabet with water streams, and a space exhibiting cultural relics unearthed during the plaza construction project. The Four Seasons Garden features native tree species representing Korea’s seasonal changes. It is also worthwhile to visit the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts adjacent to the square.

Heading down the western side of Sejong-daero from Gwanghwamun Square, you will find the Road Origin Marker. This sculpture serves as the reference point marking the start and end of Seoul’s roads. The first Road Origin Marker in Korea was erected in 1914 at the center of Gwanghwamun but was relocated and newly installed at its current location in 1997. The marker displays distances from Seoul to various provincial cities.

Continuing westward, you will come across the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The Seoul Metropolitan Council building was originally constructed in 1935 as a cultural space for exhibitions and performances. After liberation, it served as the National Assembly building and the Sejong Cultural Center annex before becoming the Seoul Metropolitan Council building.

Next, head toward Daehanmun Gate in front of Deoksugung Palace. This gate serves as the main entrance to Deoksugung, where the royal guard changing ceremony takes place. The ceremony, verified by history experts, reenacts Korea’s royal court culture and is comparable to the British royal guard changing ceremony. In these days when experiencing royal culture firsthand is difficult, the changing ceremony held three times a day attracts many tourists.

Cross the crosswalk in front of Daehanmun Gate to the eastern side of Sejong-daero. From the east side, heading back toward Gwanghwamun Square, you will reach Cheonggye Plaza at the beginning of Cheonggyecheon Stream and the Qingjing Monument. The Qingjing Monument was built in 1902 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Emperor Gojong’s enthronement. Continuing toward the square, the course concludes with a view of Gwanghwamun Square from the observatory of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

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