Statue of King Sejong (Gwanghwamun)

Statue of King Sejong is located at the Sejongno, Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul, South Korea. It is dedicated to the 15th century Korean monarch, Sejong the Great, the fourth king of Joseon dynasty and one of Korea's most famous historical figures. The statue is considered one of Seoul's major landmarks. Unveiled in 2009, it has been called "South Korea's most iconic statue."[1]

High-definition close up photo of the Statue of King Sejong.
Statue of King Sejong

The statue was constructed as part of the creation of new public space in central Seoul, the Gwanghwamun Plaza, located next to the Gyeongbokgung Palace complex.[2] The statue of King Sejong was designed by Kim Yeong-won, a carving and modeling professor at Hongik University.[3] Early plans for the Gwanghwamun Plaza included moving the statue of King Sejong from Deoksugung palace complex to the Gwanghwamun Plaza. However, after public discussions involving surveys of citizens and experts, it was decided to commission a new statue of King Sejong. Its design was chosen after a competition between a shortlist of artists recommended by the Korean Fine Arts Association and universities. The new statue was designed to be sitting, unlike the nearby older standing statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.[4][5] King Sejong statue is located 250 meters from the other large statue on the Gwanghwamun Plaza, the statue of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin.[6]

The statue of King Sejong was dedicated on 9 October 2009, in a ceremony attended by attended by President Lee Myung-bak and other Korean government official, on a Hangul Day in celebration of the 563rd anniversary of the invention of the Korean alphabet by King Sejong, two months after the Gwanghwamun Plaza opening.[7][8] The golden statue is 6.2 meters high (another source gives the statue height as 9.5 meters[8] and yet another, 6.7 meters[9]) and weights 20 tons.[7] The king has one hand raised and the other holding a book.[8] Sides of the statue display all of the hangul alphabet characters.[10] In front of the statue there are small models of a celestial globe, a rain gauge, and a sundial, the invention of which is also traditionally attributed to King Sejong in Korea.[8] While King Sejong is best remembered for his invention of hangul, he is also considered to have been involved in promotion of agriculture, literature, science and technology, as well as Confucian philosophy, in Korea. [8]

Near the statue a 'Sejong's Story' an exhibition hall, a small museum dedicated to King Sejong, can be found.[7][11]

References
  1. "Hangeul Day, in North Korea – New Focus International". New Focus International. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. "Traffic Artery to Make Way for Public Plaza". Chosun Ilbo. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  3. "King Sejong Statue : The DONG-A ILBO". english.donga.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  4. "Both Admiral Yi, King Sejong to Stand in Gwanghwamun". Chosun Ilbo. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. "King Sejong to Be Seated in Gwanghwamun Monument". Chosun Ilbo. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  6. "Seoul's New Landmark: Gwanghwamun Plaza Now Open | Official Korea Tourism Organization". english.visitkorea.or.kr. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. "Statue of King Sejong is unveiled". Joongang Daily. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  8. "King Sejong Statue (세종대왕 동상) | Official Korea Tourism Organization". english.visitkorea.or.kr. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. Henry, Todd A. (15 February 2014). Assimilating Seoul: Japanese Rule and the Politics of Public Space in Colonial Korea, 1910–1945. Univ of California Press. p. 215. ISBN 9780520958418.
  10. "Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul – Statues of King Sejong & Yi Sun-Sin (광화문광장)". Modern Seoul. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  11. "Statue Of King Sejong The Great : Fourth Joseon Dynasty King – The Seoul Guide". The Seoul Guide. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
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