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| Home >> What to See >> Preview of Gangbuk >> Gwanghwamun |
 The whole area of Gwangwhamun is agreeable for walking. It is the most popular district of Seoul where people like to walk. It is because there are many symbolic objects of politics, culture, and economics are installed on the street of ¡®Sejongno¡¯ stretched toward the ¡®Gwangwhamun. The street of ¡®Sejongno¡¯ is stretched toward the Gwangwhamun that is the main entrance of the palace of ¡®Gyeongbok-gung¡¯ during the period of Yi dynasty. And in the left side, there is Sejong cultural center. The king of ¡®Sejong¡¯ was the fourth king of Joseon, and the third son of the king of ¡®Taejong¡¯. The king of ¡®Sejong¡¯ installed an institution called ¡®Jiphyeonjeon¡¯ where scholars published the books about the agriculture, medicine and filial deed. And the king encouraged the learning. Besides, the king developed the art of printing and science technology. The king established, and made public Korean script 28 letters, called `Hunminjeongeum`. He was the outstanding king and is a spiritual father of the Korean people. So, the central street in the city of Seoul was named ¡®Sejong¡¯, and the greatest building of cultural art in Korea is called ¡®Sejong Cultural Center¡¯ There are large auditorium with more than 4000 seats and small auditorium, exhibition hall as well as large and small banquet hall in the ¡®Sejong Cultural Center¡¯. The cultural center was built on the design of the Korean Characteristic form of '¤§'. It is outstanding in the beauty of its shape and in its utility. There is a pipe organ with 8000 pipes in the large auditorium that is the main hall of performance. And world-wide music and dance groups such as British Royal ballet troupe, Berlin philharmonic orchestra performed in the ¡®Sejong Cultural Center¡¯. The bronze statue of general Lee Sunshin is stood between the streets of Sejongno and Taepyeongno. The general Lee Sunshin was the most famous general during the Yi dynasty of Joseon. The general Lee Sunsin became the chief of naval forces called ¡®Sugungeoldosa¡¯ in the province of Jeonrageado , 9 years after the king of Seonjo dominated the Joseon. The general Lee Sunsin manufactured ¡®Turtle Boat¡¯ because he predicted the war, and performed a meritorious deed during the war between Joseon and Japan. Turtle Boat called ¡®Geobukseon¡¯, ironclad boat having a form of the turtle was made by the general Lee Sunsin. Smoke emitted from the mouth of Turtle Boast, and artillery was equipped on the sides. Thus, the enemy ran away, being terrified out of their senses, as the ¡®Geobukseon¡¯ appeared. Reduced size model of Geobukseon and the bronze statue of general Lee Sunsin is the symbol of Defense of the fatherland. At the corner of the streets of Sejongno where it joins the Jongno, there is the biggest bookstore called ¡®Kyobomungo¡¯ in Korea, and besides of the bookstore, there is routine distance chart of inside country. The Cultural sightseeing bureau is stood across the Sejong Cultural Center, and behind of the palace of Gyeongbok-gung, there is Cheonghwadae, the Presidential residence where actual president of Korea resides. In the whole area of Sejongno where there are Korean historical monuments such as Kyeongbok-gung, Gwanghwamun, bronze statue of general Lee Sunshin etc., it symbolizes important parts of Korean history. How to get there To go to Sejongno and Gwanghwamun, it is closer if you get off the train of subway line no 5 at the Gwanghwamun station. Or, You should get off the train of subway line no 1, or 2, at the station of Sicheong to arrive there. If you want to go by bus, you should take a bus no 2, 37, 41, 42, 45, 46, 51, 62, 62-1, 129-1, 600 (airport bus), 915, 915-1. |
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